The Health Ministry has defended medical officers’ on-call allowances (ETAP) amid complaints that the RM9 an hour is lower than some retail staff and cleaners.
The ministry said it is inaccurate to divide their RM220 ETAP rate for public holidays and weekly active on-call by 24 hours to arrive at the figure of RM9 per hour.
“The ETAP is paid based on 15 hours per day, taking into account the duration of on-call duties after regular working hours.
“The payment of ETAP is based on the duration of the officer’s directed on-call duty (a minimum of four hours) and does not include the officer’s regular working hours,” the Health Ministry said in a statement today.
It stressed that the ETAP is for medical officers’ additional responsibilities during on-call duty, after regular working hours.
The allowances are also paid to medical officers who are directed to be on-call at health clinics after office hours.
The rate has been increased three times since its introduction in 1994, with the last increment in 2012, the ministry added.
As an example, the ministry said a hypothetical Grade UD52 medical specialist, Dr Ali, receives a monthly salary – basic and fixed allowances – of RM17,299 and is asked to perform on-call duties at the hospital.
“Based on his monthly salary, Ali is eligible to receive a daily salary of RM576.63. For the days he is directed to actively perform on-call duties, he is eligible to receive ETAP of RM250 for the additional hours he works after regular working hours.
“Therefore, the total salary he receives on the day Ali performs on-call duties is RM576.63 plus ETAP, totalling RM826.63 per day.
“Based on the above explanation, emoluments and other allowances for civil servants are determined based on the structure and principles of remuneration in the civil service, taking into account the principles of rate for the job, parity and financial capabilities,” the ministry explained.
The Malaysian Medical Association had previously proposed a 178 percent increase for weekend on-call claims for doctors to RM25 per hour from RM9. - Mkini
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