Cuepacs hopes govt won't punish contract doctors for strike

 

The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has urged Putrajaya not to punish contract doctors for their one-day strike today.

The umbrella union for civil servants said while it did not agree with the strike, it understood that the contract doctors only wanted a resolution to their job security woes.

"Cuepacs hopes that the government or authorities won't take legal or disciplinary action that could impact the service of contract doctors.

"Cuepacs understands that the demonstration did not affect the operations of healthcare facilities as it only involved those who are on break or leave.

"Give them the appropriate opportunity as their services are deeply needed by the country which is facing the Covid-19 pandemic," Cuepacs president Adnan Mat said in a statement.

 Adnan said Cuepacs also hopes the government can provide a holistic solution to the problems faced by contract doctors.

"Give a clear time frame for what the government, through the Health Ministry, plans to do.

"The government also needs to look at the reassignment of doctors who have been tasked with duties that are not part of their original duties.

"At present, there are doctors posted to do administrative or financial work when their core expertise is in medicine and healthcare services," he said.

At the same time, he said young doctors who have had the opportunity to become a specialist should also remain committed to public hospitals as the government had invested in them.

Adnan added that the government should consider allowing any doctors to pursue their specialisation at any government institutions without having mandatory service at government hospitals.

Government contract doctors staged a walkout today in a bid to lobby for better job security.

Under the current system, contract doctors face joblessness after the end of their five-year training because the government does not have the budgetary means to offer them permanent positions.

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

Half-cooked concession

Last Friday (July 23), the government offered to extend their contracts for up to four years but stopped short of offering permanent positions.

However, it promised to ensure similar perks with permanent doctors.

Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK), a government contract doctors collective, described it as "half-cooked", stressing that offering contract extension was not the solution.

They proceeded with the strike today despite intimidation by public hospital leadership including threats of disciplinary action and career progression.

The HDK organisers outlined procedures to ensure that the care of hospital patients will not be jeopardised in any way.

Among others, HDK's guidelines state that participants should only walk out at 11am after "pass-over" or transfer of duties to the permanent doctor on duty.

It added that those in critical services should also return to their post if needed.

Organisations such as Cuepacs and the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) are supportive of the contract doctors' cause but have been ambivalent about a strike during the Covid-19 pandemic where hospitals are overwhelmed.

However, the contract doctors argued that they have given their all for more than a year during the Covid-19 pandemic but fear they will be discarded once it is over and their contracts end.

Meanwhile, the MMA criticised intimidation against the contract doctors aimed at discouraging them from joining the strike.

“While MMA does not condone a strike, we view with deep concern the threats being made by those in authority on healthcare workers who participated or planned to participate in a strike today at several public healthcare facilities.

“To our understanding, it was a peaceful form of protest lasting only a short period and there were no reported disruptions to healthcare services provided at the government healthcare facilities concerned,” said MMA president M Subramaniam.

Subramaniam said the plight of contract doctors has been a long standing issue and it was unfortunate that they had to resort to a strike in order to be heard.

“We hope all public healthcare workers will be given room to voice out any frustrations they may have with the system without being subject to any form of intimidation,” he said.

Suhakam, in a separate statement, also called for appropriate support to be provided to healthcare workers amid a surge in Covid-19 cases.

“Whilst efforts are ongoing to overcome the pandemic on various fronts, Suhakam calls for appropriate support to be provided to frontliners and their families such as healthcare workers, enforcement agencies, contract workers, and volunteers, to ensure their safety and welfare are well taken care of.

“There should be adequate provision of personal protective equipment, necessary equipment, as well as better benefits in light of the risks that they face on a daily basis and their invaluable contribution to the nation in this crisis,” it said.

The commission also noted that it had received a memorandum from the contract doctors about their plight.

“Suhakam wishes to encourage all concerned parties to discuss and resolve issues raised soonest, as a matter of public interest,” it said. - Mkini