Govt to solve contract doctors issues within three years - Anwar

The government is committed to resolve long-standing issues faced by contract doctors to hold permanent positions within three years. - NSTP/ASWADI ALIAS.
The government is committed to resolve long-standing issues faced by contract doctors to hold permanent positions within three years. - NSTP/ASWADI ALIAS.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government is taking into account the financial implications involved and is looking to solve the issues in stages. - BERNAMA pic
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government is taking into account the financial implications involved and is looking to solve the issues in stages. - BERNAMA pic
By Teh Athira Yusof, Nor Ain Mohamed Radhi, Qistina Sallehuddin - April 4, 2023 @ 12:13pm

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is committed to resolve long-standing issues faced by contract doctors to hold permanent positions within three years.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government is taking into account the financial implications involved and is looking to solve the issues in stages.

"So far, the total number of contract medical officers is 20,330. Of the total, almost 12, 800 contract medical officers have completed their housemanship.

"The government is committed to absorb 12, 800 of the contract doctors within three years and so far almost 4,300 contract medical officers have permanent positions this year," he told the Lower House during the Prime Minister Question Time today.

Anwar was responding to a question by Datuk Seri Panglima Madius Tangau (Pakatan Harapan-Tuaran) on the total number of contract medical officers in the public service and the financial implications involved if all contract medical officers are absorbed into a permanent position.

The premier said the number of remaining contract doctors to hold permanent positions in civil service by 2025 are expected to involve an additional allocation of RM1.7 billion.

Picture taken on 25 Jan 2023, shows -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (left) shakes hands with the Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at the Official Dining Ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman. - BERNAMA Pic
Picture taken on 25 Jan 2023, shows -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (left) shakes hands with the Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at the Official Dining Ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman. - BERNAMA Pic

"I would like to inform the House that even though the permanent appointments for the contract doctors are made, the Health Ministry will continue to hire contract doctors for housemanship purposes.

"This will also implicate the increase of the Health Ministry's emoluments annually," he said.

Anwar said the 2023 Budget had agreed to provide emolument allocation of RM19.7 billion to the Health Ministry, an increment of almost RM3 billion compared to the 2022 Budget.

The Tambun MP said the increase in emolument of almost RM3 billion is to provide for the increase of annual salary of 288, 740 current positions in the Health Ministry at RM1.2 billion; additional allowances for the needs of contact doctors of RM600 million and appointments to permanent positions absorbed from contract officers with an additional financial implication of RM1.1 billion including doctors, pharmacists and dental officers.