Cabinet meeting came and went but contract doctors' fate still left hanging

 

The cabinet meeting came and went but no closure was forthcoming for contract doctors who awaited a government decision that will determine their future.

Health Minister Adham Baba had promised that the government would make a decision during the cabinet meeting this week to address complaints from government contract junior doctors about a lack of permanent positions and career progression despite toiling away against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii noted that the cabinet had met on Wednesday but as this week nears its end, no announcement was made about the issue.

"Adham was even reported advising the contract doctors to be patient as the matter would be discussed by the cabinet.

"However, until today, no official statement or direction has been revealed by any of them to the dismal of many health workers involved and even the public at large who are standing in solidarity with them to demand a fair and durable solution for our contract healthcare workers.

"How can the minister demand them to be patient if they do not give any clarification on what was discussed and decided to give a sense of direction for these contract healthcare workers?" Yii, a medical doctor by training, said in a statement.

Yii said there cannot be any more excuses without a substantive resolution.

"There are policy decisions that the cabinet can make immediately including allowing contract workers to apply for Hadiah Latihan Persekutuan (HLP) to further their Masters and specialisation and also for them to enjoy similar benefits as they have the same work burden and responsibility and face the same risk with their permanent counterparts.

"Such policy decisions may not incur major financial commitments and could be good first steps to resolve this issue comprehensively," he said.

Government junior contract doctors face an uncertain future after the end of their five-year training at government hospitals.

There is a lack of permanent positions at public hospitals due to the government's budgetary constraints.

As a result, many of the contract doctors have to move to the private sector or continue their specialist training abroad. - Mkini