MMA slams govt over last-minute posting of medical officer

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MAA) has hit out against the government over the last-minute posting of a medical officer (MO) who shared her experience on social media.

An MO tweeted her experience of being asked to report for duty the very next day after such a short notice.

"This was me relocating my entire life from Pahang to Kedah then downsizing to a few luggage to fly to Kuching only to be given a placement 3-4 hours away & told to lapor diri (report for duty) the very next day, bus dropped us off at a junction before the town," @renughka tweeted on Jan 30.

Another Twitter user @ncileo responded to the incident by saying that "KKM should stop giving last minute placement notices. MOs are expected to report for duty the next day after hospital placements are given.

"The need to relocate manpower in facilities which are lacking is understandable.

"However, if there are no earlier notices regarding specific hospital placements, it is unfair especially to those whose placements are in other states.

"Some have family and other commitments which require better prior planning. This has got to change. @Zaliha_DrZ," she said.

Its president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said the incident was unreasonable and ridiculous.

He said the government must bear full responsibility and compensate MOs for the inconvenience caused at the eleventh hour.

"We hope the Public Service Department (PSD) and Health Ministry will get to the bottom of this issue and straighten out the department responsible for the poor planning.

"Arrangements to relocate to another state requires advance notice to manage financial commitments like rental payments and other bills, make travel arrangements, find accommodation, pack and for some, even make arrangements to care for loved ones.

"If they are parents, they may need to take their children with them and find day-care or enrol them in new schools," he said.

He added that both the Health Ministry and JPA must take a serious view of the issue and ensure such incidents did not recur.