The additional six-month contract extension limits contract workers from getting enough time and training for their specialist programmes, even if they are doing the parallel pathways.
The six-month contract follows a previous six-month contract given last April to 2,070 medical, dental, and pharmacy officers who completed their compulsory service.
We urge the government to create more permanent posts and to lengthen the contract duration (for example, five to 10 years with the same grade, pay, and benefits as permanent posts).
MOH offered a one-year contract to nurses, microbiologists, biomedical officers, science officers, medical assistants, and medical laboratory technologists to help curb Covid-19.
About 71% of contract medical officers and about 63% of contract dental officers who received permanent posts in the public sector, as of July 31, 2020, were JPA and MARA scholars.
Dr Adham Baba says contract officers are chosen for permanent appointments through “strict and continuous evaluation” during their graduate training or compulsory service.
Dr Kelvin Yii says it’s not true that Malaysia is “flooded with doctors” as there is a lack of medical practitioners in rural areas, including Sarawak.
Yes, gratitude is very important and thus, it is on that same sentiment that the government should be thankful for the continued exemplary service of all the health care workers.