The Malaysian Health Coalition (MHC) applauds the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Public Service Department, the Ministry of Finance, and other agencies for the medium-term solutions for contract health care professionals announced on February 10, 2022.
The MHC is particularly pleased with MOH’s willingness to listen to multiple parties and implement inclusive solutions.
We further urge the following:
Expedite The Formation Of The Health Reform Commission
On January 15, 2022, the health minister proposed a white paper to reform Malaysia’s health care system, and also suggested the formation of a health reform commission to ensure continuity of reforms, without being held hostage by any political transitions.
This proposal must be tabled at the earliest in Parliament, and we urge all Members of Parliament to unite behind the health reform commission. The commission must be given the mandate and resources to strengthen and protect our health care system, including health care workforce welfare and development.
Optimise Distribution Of Health Care Professionals
Malaysia has a healthy number of health care professionals (HCPs). However, distribution inequality remains a concern, as most resources tend to congregate in urban areas. Increasing our health expenditure to more than 5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will help employ more HCPs for a fairer distribution across Malaysia.
Trade-off vacancies and periodically increasing posts are not sustainable. The transfer process within the MOH should be timely, transparent, and justifiable with evidence to ensure there are enough HCPs in places where their services are required.
We urge the government to also improve incentives and allowances for those deployed to remote areas. These privileges must be given equally to both permanent and contract HCPs.
Control Intake Capacity Of Medical Students In Public And Private Universities
According to the MOH’s strategic plan (2016-2020), the target ratio of doctors to citizens by 2025 should be 1 to 400. To achieve this goal, the country needs 4,000 new medical graduates annually (currently, there are more than 6,000 new graduates annually).
With limited permanent posts in government, many had to go through the contract extension process. To compensate for the upcoming increase in permanent posts, we must ensure the intake of medical students is controlled.
The roadmap in progress is highly called for, in order to assess the intake capacity and produce an optimal number of competent graduates.
An assurance in career pathways and employment will increase the morale of our health care professionals. We hope for equitable and sustainable solutions to protect our health care professionals and the health of our nation.
The Malaysian Health Coalition comprises the following:
- Academy of Medicine Malaysia
- Association of Malaysian Optometrists
- College of Anaesthesiologists
- College of Ophthalmologists
- College of Physicians
- College of Surgeons Academy of Medicine of Malaysia
- IKRAM Health Malaysia
- Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia
- Lung Cancer Network of Malaysia
- Malaysian Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology
- Malaysian Paediatric Association
- Malaysian Pharmacists Society
- Malaysian Public Health Physician Association
- Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists
- Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology
- Malaysian Thoracic Society
- Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia
- MedTweetMy
- National Cancer Society of Malaysia
- Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia
- Perinatal Society of Malaysia
- Assoc Prof Dr Uma Devi Palanisamy
- Dr Jahizah Hassan
- Dr Amar Singh-HSS
- Dr Khor Swee Kheng
- Prof Dr Zulkifli Ismail
- Prof Dr Asri Said
- Prof Dr Roslina Abdul Manap
- Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh
- Prof Dr Zaleha Abdullah Mahdy
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
