Contract doctors leaving public service: Concerns rise over implications on patients

Wong Siew Mun is a spokesperson for MCA

MCA shares in the concerns of numerous government contract medical doctors of an impending doctor shortage triggered by an exodus consequent to an announcement by the Public Service Department (PSD) that contract doctors, dentists and pharmacists under its scholarships are permitted to apply for release from their bonds.

PSD's announcement was made to reduce the growing numbers of contract medical officers (MOs) in the national healthcare system. The contract scheme in the Health Ministry was started in 2016. Thus, contract MOs who are permitted by the PSD announcement to terminate their bonds refer to those appointed after 2016, as well as those who had taken loans before 2016.