KOTA BHARU, KELANTAN, 26 January 2022 – The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Medical Alumni Association (Persatuan Alumni Doktor USM, PADU) welcomed the Government's decision in agreeing to offer contract medical and dental officers, as well as pharmacists, a two-year service contract after they have completed their compulsory service, to ensure continuity of service and prepare them for specialist studies.  

PADU President, Professor Dato’ Dr. Jafri Malin Abdullah, in a statement, said the decision reflected the government's concern for the fate of medical doctors who played a pivotal role as frontliners in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“PADU would like to thank the government and all parties involved, as it showed the government’s seriousness and determination in improving this contract system.

“The problems of contract medical officers have raised various reactions in the community, especially to the affected parties, thus causing great frustration and demotivation among them,” he said.

Dr. Jafri said the post of contract medical officers was created in December 2016 with the aim of addressing shortage of permanent posts, as well as to enable recruitment of medical officers to be made without having to rely on limited permanent vacancies.

“We realise, the problem on surplus medical officers is a chronic one, inherited due to the mistakes in strategy by the previous administration. Hence, proper planning with a clear long-term strategic plan is needed,” he added.

The government, he said, should work to increase the number of Permanent Post for UD43/44 Medical Officer in line with national needs.

Dr. Jafri said, “The government should work to improve the contracting system of medical officers and decide on the terms and conditions for them to apply for Hadiah Latihan Persekutuan (HLP). We need a solution for those who do not qualify for postgraduate training, but this is at least a step in the right direction.”  

(Hadiah Latihan Persekutuan, HLP is a federal government scholarship for specialisation programmes).

According to him, he believes the government will also take appropriate actions to resolve other problems faced by contract doctors, such as:  

a. Transparent criteria and selection of contract doctors to be absorbed into permanent positions.  

b. Equal perks and benefits as their permanent counterparts, such as promotion based on duration of service, emergency leave, cancer leave, and other benefits not available to contract doctors.  

c. Amending the Pensions Act 1980 to ensure that all contract doctors receive permanent positions plus Employees Provident Fund (EPF) cover.  

“We will not give up but continue to fight for the welfare of those affected and are always ready to hold discussions with other bodies such as the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), Public Service Department (JPA), and other medical alumni to provide a better pathway for doctors in the public service, especially in resolving the issues being discussed, for the sake of the junior doctors and the Malaysian healthcare system in general,” he said.   

Source: PADU press release/Editing: Tan Ewe Hoe