Go black to support contract healthcare workers - MMA's public appeal

 

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has appealed to the public to show support for the plight of contract healthcare workers during the “Code Black” online protest.

From July 1 to 12, its president Dr Subramaniam Muniandy (above) requested that personal profile pictures on social media accounts be changed to black or monochrome.

He also requested for companies, institutions and corporations to do the same.

Apart from this, he said Malaysians can visit MMA's social media pages for updates on the issue and help to share the information.

The online protest initiated by MMA takes place ahead of a planned strike by another group of independent contract doctors on July 26, which the association has distanced itself from.

Meanwhile, Subramaniam said on July 12, dubbed “Black Monday”, people can show their support by turning up at work wearing black.

He also requested them to share pictures of themselves holding a placard which states “We stand with contract healthcare workers” with the hashtags #saveMYcontractHCW #BlackMondayMY #CodeBlackMY.

Subramaniam explained that wearing black, among others, is to mourn the bright young Malaysian talents lost to other countries.

“To recognise the suffering of contract healthcare workers left in Malaysia.

“Code Black (emergency code) - a hospital emergency code denoting a threat to personnel - in this case, our contract healthcare workers.

“We need the people’s help and support. Please join us,” he added.

Taking note of the government's response to the issue concerning contract healthcare personnel, Subramaniam noted that it has been almost five years since the first batch of contract doctors started work in December 2016.

The Covid-19 pandemic, he added, has strained the healthcare system and revealed the importance of contract doctors.

“Multiple meetings have been held, letters sent, and statements were made and there is still no clear and firm answer from the government with regard to the future and welfare of our healthcare workers.

“There are 23,077 contract doctors since 2016 but only 789 have been given permanent positions in our public healthcare.

“For almost five years, the contract healthcare workers have been asking for clear career/postgraduate pathway to specialisation, detailed and transparent criteria for permanent posts, equal and fair treatment between contract and permanent staff as well as job security for all doctors and allied healthcare workers.

“The contract doctors, many of whom are directly involved as frontliners in the fight against Covid-19 have been facing a long uncertainty about their future and so we call upon all Malaysians to show their support for them,” he added. - Mkini