“We need more specialists and more doctors. If we don’t provide security of tenure to these officers, they will leave the service,” Khairy Jamaluddin says.
The number of MOH’s permanent health care workers have risen from 149,031 in 2010 to 214,534 in 2021, though by annual percentage it has fallen from a high 8.89% in 2013 to 1.28% as of September this year.
Hartal Doktor Kontrak will organise its second work strike if the government does not offer permanent appointments and EPF benefits to all contract doctors.
A total of 3,586 medical officers, 300 dental officers, and 300 pharmacy officers, totalling 4,186 of 10,583 officers who have completed their compulsory service, were recommended for permanent positions.
Khairy Jamaluddin says the government wants to provide a channel for contract medical officers to apply for federal scholarships to pursue specialist training in local universities.
While politicians play musical chairs, health care workers continue to struggle daily with rising cases of Covid-19, burnout, lack of manpower, beds, oxygen and equipment.