KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry is committed to examining the issue of on-call allowances for doctors, which were last reviewed in 2012, the Dewan Negara was told today.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said following several town hall sessions conducted by the ministry with medical officers, various suggestions have been put forth to the Public Services Department (PSD) for the increase in on-call allowances.
Lukanisman, however, said the final decision on the review for the on-call rate has yet to be reached despite ongoing efforts carried out by the ministry.
"The ministry is very serious (about the review of the on-call rate) and we have presented the suggestion since the first day (of taking over the administration).
"I have also met the newly minted minister (Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad) and (told him) about the commitment to look into the issue so it can be further refined.
"At the same time, we have also re-submitted a proposal to PSD as the central agency (on the matter), however, a final decision on the review has yet to be made," he said during the question and answer session in Dewan Negara, today.
Lukanisman said this in response to a supplementary question by Senator Dr A. Lingeshwaran who enquired about the government's plan to review the on-call rate for doctors and whether the increase could be finalised next year.
Lingeshwaran also highlighted that on-call rate for doctors were maintained at RM9 per hour, which was far lower than what is earned by e-hailing drivers.
At the same time, Lukanisman added that the ministry has also joined the study done by PSD through the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) by giving suggestions and input provided by medical officers for the review of on-call rates.
"The last time the on-call officer allowance rate was reviewed was in 2012 and the application for an increase in on-call duty allowance rates has been raised to JPA in 2022 and 2023.
"(And) if we look at the history of the allowance rate, we have increased it in 1994 to 2001, 2005 and also in 2012. This means that it has been almost 10 to 11 years since the review of the allowance.
"Hence, the government through PSD is currently implementing a study on SSPA. Following this, the ministry also joins the study by providing input obtained from medical officers, unions and associations through town halls conducted to enhance the welfare of officers in the health sector," he said.
In November, the Health Ministry announced that it would maintain the current on-call allowances for doctors as it was considered sufficient due to other existing allowances provided.
This includes RM750 per month for critical services incentive; specialist incentive payment (RM2,200 to RM3,100 a month, depending on grade); and allowance for medical officers on duty after office hours at health clinics and hospital emergency departments (RM80 per hour).
The ministry also said that the government's current priority is to address allowance rates for service schemes that receive less than RM100 per month.
The announcement came after the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) suggested a 178 per cent increase in the on-call claims for doctors on weekends at a town hall session with the former minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa in February.
The proposal aimed to increase the rate to RM25 per hour from the current rate of RM9.16.
