The Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim should give an assurance that the high-level committee headed by the Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi will be given a year to resolve the long-standing problem of contract doctors.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had urged government contract doctors to give him and the high-level committee set up by the Cabinet last week the chance to solve their woes.
Zahid said: “I have formed a high-level committee that involves not only the Health Ministry but also other agencies including the Public Service Department, the Public Service Commission and several others.
“Discussions have to be done to finalise a new scheme, which has to be developed so we can help the contract doctors, whom I believe must be defended.
“And this must be done through methods and government service schemes.”
Anwar should give this assurance during the Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQT) in the Dewan Rakyat later today, as the MP for Tuaran, Madius Tangau has a question on contract doctors, viz, to ask the Prime Minister “menyatakan jumlah keseluruhan Pegawai Perubatan lantikan kontrak dalam perkhidmatan awam dan implikasi kewangan yang terlibat jika semua Pegawai Perubatan lantikan kontrak diserap masuk dan seterusnya dilantik secara tetap”.
The problem of the contract doctors was inherited from a previous government when it was introduced in 2016 – when the country was faced with a deluge of medical graduates in the job market. The government should be sensitive to the voices of healthcare workers and ensure that all the concerns raised are solved, including creating permanent positions, sponsoring the studies of doctors, having time-based promotions, as well as creating the opportunity for promotions to a special grade.
I endorse the stand of the DAPSY leader and MP for Bandar Kuching, Kelvin Yii that the substantial demands put forth by Mogok Doctor Malaysia on behalf of contract doctors should not be ignored but should be given serious consideration.
Anwar should ask the Mogok Doctor Malaysia to come out into the open and give an assurance that none of the activists will be penalised.
The Covid-19 pandemic has shown the need to upgrade the health system in the country and this aspect should be taken into consideration by the high-level Cabinet committee.