Resolution to contract healthcare workers issue in progress

PETALING JAYA: Although it is an “uphill task”, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa is committed to finding a solution to the issue of contract healthcare workers.

“As I have mentioned before, I am determined to address the ecosystem of health workers like medical doctors, paramedics and medical alliances in Malaysia and to provide better healthcare services, especially moving from sick care to healthcare.

“This requires cooperation from various government agencies. It’s an uphill task but we are on it.

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“The welfare of contract doctors and healthcare workers has been my focus right until this very minute, and it will continue to be until we table our Health White Paper in the coming parliamentary meeting,” she said in an interview with The Star.

Her ministry, she added, is fine-tuning the issues related to contract medical officers after getting feedback from the townhall session it held with medical practitioners on Feb 22.

She said the feedback collected has been presented to the high-level committee established based on the government’s decision on March 31.

“The high-level committee comprises several key ministries and government agencies, such as the Finance Ministry, Higher Education Ministry and Public Service Department (PSD),” she said.

Dr Zaliha said her ministry will ensure that the Healthcare Reform Commission can be set up to tackle issues related to the service scheme of health personnel, especially doctors.

“The proposal for the formation of the commission will be presented through the tabling of the Health White Paper in Parliament since it is in the fourth pillar (of the paper),” she said.

The absorption of contract healthcare workers into permanent service has been a longstanding issue since the introduction of the contract system in 2016.

On April 4, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said 12,800 permanent positions would be provided over the next three years.

The Prime Minister, who is also the Finance Minister, said the government has allocated RM1.7bil for the hiring.

Some 4,300 personnel out of the 20,333 contract healthcare workers comprising doctors, dentists and pharmacists will be absorbed this year.

Separately, Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni said on May 13 that 2,000 to 3,000 contract nurse applications will be absorbed into permanent positions this year.

He said the applications were submitted to the PSD for approval.