KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 — The new ePlacement system will not be on a first-come, first-served basis but utilise other “algorithms” instead to be fairer, according to Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad.
Dzulkefly also said the new ePlacement session for contract medical officers to select their permanent placements will likely be around May or June, after six to eight weeks of testing and engagement sessions for the new system.
“It will not be a first-come, first-served system. Instead, it will incorporate other algorithms to ensure fairness,” Dzulkefly was quoted by the New Straits Times as telling reporters during a visit to Media Prima Berhad’s Balai Berita here yesterday.
“While many prefer placements in the Klang Valley, there are also roles that need to be filled in Sabah and Sarawak.
“As such, the new system will be improved to be fairer and more equitable, addressing the various shortcomings of the current ePlacement system.”
The health minister attributed the previous technical glitches and system crashes with the ePlacement system to the first-come, first-served approach and users using multiple devices.
“It has already been explained by the Health director-general that there are fundamental faults, shortcomings, or flaws in the ePlacement system that we launched on February 27,” said Dzulkefly.
“We are urgently addressing these issues with a dedicated team led by the deputy health minister, involving the human resources division, the information management division, and the digital health division, along with other relevant parties.
“They are currently discussing ways to make the ePlacement system fairer, rather than operating on a first-come, first-served basis.”
Dzulkefly, however, did not state the criteria for permanent positions that contract doctors have long asked for years.
At a recent press conference, Health director-general Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan announced a delay of six to eight weeks for the new ePlacement session, after multiple delays following the nullification of the February 27 results for 2,245 contract medical officers due to “technical issues” with the system.
He said approvals exceeded the original quota and that less than 1 per cent of vacancies in Sabah and Sarawak were filled.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) blamed users for using multiple devices during the February 27 session, saying that the system got 19 million hits, but denying security breaches or cyberattacks.
A statement released last Saturday by an unnamed “Coalition of Malaysian Medical Officers”, which was posted on Hartal Doktor Kontrak’s (HDK) Facebook page, demanded that the MOH uphold the February 27 ePlacement results.
The group also called for replacement leave for doctors who took leave on February 27 and March 17 (the second initially scheduled ePlacement session that was cancelled at the last minute).
“Provide a detailed explanation on the new merit-based system and ensure transparency in data on the need and vacancies for medical officers in each MOH facility,” said the Coalition of Malaysian Medical Officers.
“Implement the new system for incoming cohorts, not the current cohort. We don’t want to be test subjects for the new system that is being developed hurriedly. This system must be observed and tested comprehensively before use.”
Kuala Langat MP Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, who is chair of Perikatan Nasional MPs’ health committee, suggested that the placements of the current cohort be done conventionally, pending recovery of the ePlacement system.
