PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry has approved the extension of contracts for medical, dentistry, pharmaceutical officers for an additional period of six months.
Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said the ministry was concerned about the current situation and the issues faced by frontliners in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The move is in line with the government and ministry's wishes to curb and flatten the curve of the Covid-19 pandemic," he said in a statement on Wednesday (April 15).
It was reported that contract medical officers employed in public hospitals and clinics had expressed concerns after learning that their contracts had been extended for just another two years, and without a pay raise.
The contract medical officers were left in shock when they received letters from the Health Ministry earlier in March stating that their contracts had been renewed for only two years – from May 15,2020 to May 14,2022 – on the UD41 civil service grade, after which no extensions would be given.
The Health Minister explained that the approval of the extension of contracts involved a total of 79 medical officers in grade UD41,852 dental officers in grade UG41, and 1,139 pharmacy officers in grade UF41 which would be managed from time to time.
"The government hopes that the extension of the contract will give the opportunity for officers to continue their service and ensure smooth delivery of healthcare processes that will benefit the people.
"The decision involves the service contract of those that will and have ended in stages at the end of 2019 and 2020 only," he said.
