Healthcare workers unions thankful to Khairy

THE recent announcement by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin in giving nurses better opportunities to advance in their career has been met with positive and enthusiastic response from healthcare workers’ unions who represent nursing personnel across the country.

Earlier the health minister issued a press statement praising healthcare workers in providing the best and quality services to the people despite challenges faced in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

The minister added that their sacrifices during the pandemic did not go unnoticed.

The good news announced by the minister during the officiating of the 25th Joint Malaysia-Singapore Nursing Conference at Johor Bahru on 22nd September 2022 included the creation of 226 Grade U41/42/44 nursing posts, 7434 new posts for grade U29/32/36 over a three year period commencing in the year 2023.

Based on the 226 new posts projection the ministry will also act on the permanent appointment and offer of promotions for those who qualify based on the specific year.

Meanwhile, to ensure the service delivery at maternal and child health clinics are at its optimum and efficient level, the ministry has applied flexi grade U19 community nurses into U19/U29.

This change will enable 1,406 community nurses at grade U19 who have completed and passed the nursing diploma for the purpose of upgrading by appointment to be placed at grade U29 (PSL).

This will also ensure they remain in the same post available as a U29 nurse without being transferred out.

President of Malayan Nurses Union Nor Hayati Abdul Rashid said the union thanks the Health Minister for his tireless effort in ensuring a better career path for nurses towards providing the best healthcare delivery system in the country.

Nor Hayati added that the union has been engaging with the health ministry on the issue of creating more promotional posts especially for those nurses with nursing degrees.

The placement of contract nurses into permanent appointments will give certainty to the nurses future career in the health ministry.

Having a caring health minister as Khairy is vital in ensuring healthcare workers stay motivated in carrying out their duties.

Meanwhile the Presidents of both Sabah Medical Services Union, Ajulahin Japin and Sarawak Medical Services Union, Bong Kuek Siong whose membership comprises a sizeable number of nursing personnel in both states welcomed the good news as announced by the Health Minister.

With the nurses future being secured with the announcement it is hoped that more attention can be given to the other aspects of health services being provided for by healthcare workers in Sabah and Sarawak.

More needs to be done on workers’ welfare in particular with regards to living quarters that need to be upgraded.

Both unions also expressed the hope that the other categories of para-medics will get similar attention from the minister. Support services like having sufficient drivers and functioning ambulances are also very crucial in providing efficient services for the peoples’ wellbeing.

President of the Peninsular Malaysia Union for health community nurses Roslina Othman expressed relief and gratitude to the Health Minister for his caring effort in listening to the proposals forwarded through various forums as to the plight of the community nurses on the need to move forward in their career path.

All four unions hope more meaningful engagements with the health minister can be made in developing the best healthcare services for the peoples’ well-being.

The unions are also very much thankful to the Public Services Department, Health Ministry’s Secretary General and Director General and the Health Ministry’s Director of Nursing for being supportive and positive of the proposals made by the health minister.

NOR HAYATI ABD RASHID

President, Malayan Nurses Union

AJULAHIN JAPIN

President, Sabah Medical Services Union

BONG KUEK SIONG

President, Sarawak Medical Services Union

ROSLINA OTHMAN

President, Kesatuan Bidan dan Jururawat Masyarakat Semenanjung Malaysia