'Salary, work environment key to retaining doctors'

 

Reviewing the salaries for contract doctors and addressing work environment issues are key to retaining them.

A Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) spokesperson, who declined to be named, told Malaysiakini they understand the government’s precarious financial position.

However, they said one factor that contributes to doctors quitting government service is due to better wages paid by the private sector.

Hopefully, Putrajaya’s review of the salary scheme will retain doctors and attract those who have quit, but the issues of doctors being unable to move to rural areas due to factors such as pregnancy or family matters still stand, they said.

“We understand if we were asked to move to rural areas to comply with the Public Service Department (PSD) circular.

“But those who have issues like pregnancy, family matters, they appeal to PSD and the Health Ministry (MOH) but to no avail. Thus they have to refuse the permanentship offer.

“We would implore MOH, if any of the contract doctors who can’t follow their directive to move to certain parts of Malaysia due to very important reasons that are justifiable, kindly give them a second chance,” they said.

On Tuesday, in a written parliamentary reply, the ministry said 3,046 contract doctors resigned from 2021 to 2023.

A total of 768 resigned in 2021, 1,354 in 2022, and 924 last year, it elaborated.

In February, the ministry reportedly said it will appoint another 6,000 medical officers to permanent positions between this year and next.

But in a written reply to Jerantut MP Khairil Nizam Khirudin on March 14, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said 1,118 medical officers did not report for duty for permanent positions last year.

This was a 1,333 percent increase from the previous year, in which only 78 medical officers did not report for duty.

Complaints not taken seriously

Meanwhile, the HDK spokesperson pointed to the burdens and stress of being a doctor in the public sector, as they are often overworked due to the dwindling number of medical officers.

Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy chief executive officer Azrul Mohd Khalib also said the government needs to reflect on its management of complaints from healthcare professionals in the public sector.

“Over the years, there have been many complaints of being overworked, exploited, inadequate compensation, sexual harassment, bullying, and general mistreatment.

Azrul Mohd Khalib

“Even to this day, these complaints continue to be heard.

“Unfortunately, these issues were not taken seriously and even considered exaggerated as the most recent former minister of health implied,” he told Malaysiakini.

He was referring to Dr Zaliha Mustafa’s reported dismissal of issues highlighted by a relocation exercise as an “exaggeration”.

The deterioration of the workforce is not just among doctors, but also nurses and pharmacists in the public health sector, he added.

Many healthcare professionals do not speak up due to fear of repercussions from upper management, he explained.

Aside from admitting that the issues exist, the government must establish a safe space for frank discussions, he said.

“It needs to review fair compensation, professional human rights and human resource standards, and professional development pathways which are based on merit and fair practice.

“If the Health Ministry falls short in addressing these issues, the attrition of healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists from the public healthcare workforce will continue,” he said. - Mkini