Announce Cabinet decision to avert strike by docs, govt told

 

House officers, medical officers and specialists wore black on July 1 and 2 in a campaign of solidarity with contract doctors.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged the government to be quick in announcing the outcome of last week’s Cabinet meeting regarding contract doctors’ demand for improved pay and perks.

MMA president Subramanian Muniandy said the announcement was urgent because the doctors were threatening to go on strike next week.

“We hope the government will make an announcement as soon as possible to avert any form of action by the junior doctors,” he told FMT.

Subramaniam also asserted MMA’s opposition to the strike, saying it would be wrong not only legally, but also morally, because Covid-19 was raging.

“I have said it before and I am saying it again. We are totally against any form of strike that will affect healthcare during such a crucial period.

“I would advise those planning the action to think again. It will not go down well with the people.”

But he also said he believed Malaysians were supportive of the call for better terms for the 23,000 contract doctors. “And that itself is a victory for now.”

On Tuesday, a representative of the Hartal Doktor Kontrak group said the absence of a government response had left the group with no choice but to go ahead with the strike on July 26.

Last week, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the Cabinet would, on July 14, discuss the appeal by contract doctors to be appointed to permanent positions in the civil service.

He said the matter had to be discussed thoroughly as it would involve a cost of more than RM2 billion to the government.

The issue gained momentum recently after a social media campaign known as #HartalDoktorKontrak kicked off with calls for the strike.

Subramaniam said MMA recently proposed to the health minister that the government give the affected officers a 10-year contract and allow them to do their specialist courses with public hospitals during the period.

“This means they will finish their housemanship and mandatory service in about four years and spend the next four years doing their specialist courses. The additional two years are for those who may need more time.

“With this, the government will also be able to resolve the serious problem of shortage of specialists. Those wanting to leave the government service will also be better qualified and it will help their career too.” - FMT