MMA meets health minister, lays bare doctors' grievances

Summary

• Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) meets with Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad to discuss issues affecting healthcare workers.

• MMA president says the disagreement over the contentious WBB issue was explained.

• MMA reiterates its call to increase on-call allowance and wants transparency in the giving of permanent posts.

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) met with Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad and other ministry officials to discuss issues affecting healthcare workers and public healthcare.

MMA president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said among the issues raised was the planned Waktu Bekerja Berlainan (WBB) policy, “which has been the cause of much turmoil amongst many doctors and doctors’ groups over the last week”.

“MMA, with the feedback it has b`een receiving from its members and other doctors, explained in great detail the reasons and reservations why public healthcare doctors, in general, neither agree with nor support the WBB system.

“We acknowledged the intention behind the planned policy but emphasised the necessity of addressing the shortages and maldistribution of healthcare workers in the system before any new system is planned,” he added.

Kalwinder said MMA also reiterated the importance of having meaningful engagement stages with stakeholders, including the MMA, before the introduction of any new policy, particularly when it impacts the healthcare workforce and delivery of services.

“We also reiterated our long-standing call for the immediate implementation of an increase in on-call allowance across the board for all doctors serving in public healthcare, a matter we strongly believe requires urgent attention.

“We emphasised that this increase must be for all doctors and not tied to any particular working system. This has been something that doctors in public service have been hoping for since last year and are still hopeful that the government will come through with what was promised,” he added.

Kalwinder said MMA also highlighted the need for transparency in the process of giving permanent posts to contract doctors.

“We called for clarity and fairness in the process of selection. The information on the selection criteria must be given to these doctors so they know where they stand and what is required of them,” he added.

MMA also raised the issue of the Bayaran Insentif Wilayah (BIW) which has been reduced to a much lower amount after the implementation of the civil service remuneration system (SSPA).

The association requested that this be looked into so as to maintain equality in allowances for doctors serving in the same capacity and facility.

“Lastly, MMA shared its view on the importance of planning for the future and reassuring the budding talents in schools and medical colleges that they have a future as doctors, especially in the public healthcare sector of the country,” said Kalwinder.

'Letter on new doctor shift system just internal memo'

Health Ministry's town hall on shift work plan 'disastrous' - report

YOURSAY | Money not main reason for doctors leaving govt service

Dzulkefly concerned over doctor resignations, lays out retention steps

MOH to introduce rotation system to address workforce shortage