New MMA head wants better future for doctors in public healthcare

The Malaysian Medical Association has named Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira as its new president, taking over from Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz.

In his inaugural speech at MMA’s Annual Banquet held in Kuching late yesterday evening, Kalwinder (above) said he aims to work with the Health Ministry towards establishing and securing a better future for doctors in public healthcare.

“My main focus will be on doing all we can to provide and lay the groundwork for a better and more certain future for our doctors.

"This encompasses looking at their right to job security, healthy work environment, specialist training options and opportunities, work-life balance, recognition of their efforts in terms of salaries, on-call allowances and also their mental well-being,” he said.

Kalwinder added that the well-being of our doctors is invariably tied to the future of healthcare in our country as we aim to encourage our doctors to stay in service and serve the public.

“We hope for more meaningful engagement with the government on the setting up of a healthcare reform commission as it will have an effect on the long-term future of healthcare and healthcare workers in the country. MMA, with its more than 17, 000 members will definitely like to give its views.

“MMA acts not only as the voice of the medical doctors but has also always highlighted issues directly and indirectly related to the health care of our populace,” he said.

As for doctors in private healthcare, the MMA president said there are still several unresolved issues that must be addressed.

“There are issues in the private sector which begets attention and discussion. The issues with regards to the harmonisation of private GPs fee schedule as well as issues faced by private specialists with insurers and Third Party Administrators (TPAs) in the duty of care have been there for several years and warrants renewed attention” he said.

He also said that the MMA would be looking into societal issues such as the control and regulation of the tobacco and vape industry, planning for the needs of an ageing population as well as control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

“Reforms to address these concerns are needed, in line with the Health White Paper.

"Hopefully, we will see movement and progress in these areas towards achieving the desired outcomes,” said Kalwinder.

He also expressed hope to engage regularly with the Health Ministry on issues affecting the country’s healthcare and the health of the population.

Accelerate budget increase

Commenting briefly on the upcoming National Budget 2025 which is to be tabled in October, Kalwinder said the plan to increase the nation’s healthcare budget in terms of percentage of our GDP must be accelerated.

“This is not only for infrastructure development but also for the improvement of its most important asset - its healthcare personnel.

"We thank the government for the new salary scheme (SSPA) taking effect in December, which we believe has brought some joy to all civil servants in the wake of the rising cost of living but there are other issues affecting doctors like the on-call allowances which we hope that the budget will provide for.

“We note that the government has said there will be changes in the on-call allowances however we hope that the increase in quantum will be appropriate and apt for the responsibilities the doctors undertake.”

He said increased on-call allowances are something that recognises the work that doctors do in ensuring 24-hour care to patients in hospitals.

“This duty has never been a choice but a necessity in providing healthcare to patients and as such, entails many sacrifices by doctors who have to be in hospitals during weekends, public holidays and also on family occasions. They should be appropriately acknowledged” he said.

He also stressed that retaining talent, especially junior doctors, will be vital for the future of our public healthcare system, and urged the government to look into the future of senior specialists and sub-specialists.

“Many have been stagnating at Grade UD56 for many years. we need more Jawatan Utama Sektor Awam (Jusa) posts yearly to open up the bottleneck,” he said.

Kalwinder is presently a Consultant Physician and Head of the Department of Medicine at the Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching.

He also currently serves as an elected member of the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), a post he has held since 2018, adjunct professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, chairperson of the Sarawak General Hospital Medical Graduate Association and council member of the College of Physicians Malaysia.

MMA office bearers for the 2024-2025 term are:

• President: Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira

• President-elect: Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo

• Immediate past president: Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz

• Honorary general secretary: Dr Vasu Pillai Letchumanan

• Honorary general treasurer: Dr Arvindran Alaga

• Honorary deputy secretaries: Dr Sivanaesan Letchumanan, Dr Sivabala Selvaratnam

• Private practitioners section chairperson: Dr Parmjit Singh Kuldip Singh

• Section concerning house officers, medical officers and specialists chairperson: Dr Timothy Cheng Tsin Jien

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