Dzulkefly assures fix for 'erased' seniority in healthcare sector

Summary

• Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad acknowledges an unfair policy where years of contract service are not counted towards grade and salary upon permanent appointment, and says corrective action is underway.

• Between 2022 and 2024, 705 doctors and 1,394 nurses resigned after over five years’ service, but the ministry filled vacancies with 12,761 doctors and 5,396 nurses in the same period.

• Retention measures include shorter shifts for certain staff, new allowances and incentives, and faster promotion pathways.

Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad acknowledged grievances that years of contract service in the public healthcare sector are not being counted towards grade and salary during appointments for permanent positions.

Responding to a social media user who criticised the policy for erasing years of seniority, the minister said he is aware of the “predicament” and has ordered steps to correct what he deemed an “irregularity”.

“I’m fully aware of this predicament… and have already initiated action for this ‘irregularity’ to be corrected and regularised. Wish us well,” Dzulkefly said on X yesterday evening.

The social media user’s post came under an announcement that 4,354 candidates for Grade UD10 medical officer positions will receive letters of permanent appointments by Aug 18.

The announcement by the Health Ministry stated that permanent appointments must be implemented in stages as they involve officers from various cohorts and take into account their seniority and welfare.

Candidates who accept the offer are to report for duty in phases from Oct 2 at ministry facilities nationwide.

The ministry also said it held engagement sessions with the Finance Ministry, Public Services Commission, and Public Service Department to ensure the appointment process proceeds smoothly.

Meanwhile, in a parliamentary written reply, Dzulkefly revealed that 705 medical officers and 1,394 nurses resigned between 2022 and 2024 after serving for more than five years.

The minister said among the main reasons for the resignations were opportunities to serve in the private sector or statutory bodies, as well as personal and health-related issues.

However, he noted that the ministry appointed 12,761 medical officers and 5,396 nurses during the same period to fill permanent vacancies, as part of its efforts to strengthen the healthcare system.

Retaining medical talent

In his response to a query posed by PKR’s Gopeng MP Tan Kar Hing, Dzulkefly added that his ministry has implemented several initiatives to retain talent and mitigate the outflow of experienced healthcare personnel.

These, he said, include exemptions from interim contract appointments for nurses by central agencies for 2023 and 2024, with potential for permanent appointments in 2025.

Shift working hours for medical officers in Emergency Departments and nurses in wards have also been reduced from 45 to 42 hours per week, while the ministry provides specific allowances and incentives, such as locum allowance, specialist incentive payment, and post-basic allowance.

Dzulkefly said incentive payments are offered to pre-gazettement medical officers undergoing their supervised work experience period, in recognition of their commitment and specialist workload.

This incentive, known as the Pre-Gazette Specialist Incentive Payment (BIPPW), ensures they receive the same financial benefits as fully gazetted specialists during this transitional period.

He added that faster career progression is another focus of the ministry, with time-based promotions from Grade UD9 to UD14 achievable within a period of nine to 12 years for medical officers.

For paramedics, the Time-Based Excellence (TBK 1 and TBK 2) promotions are available upon completing 13 years of service.

Dzulkefly: We can't stop foreign medical headhunters from hiring locals

'Ship has sunk': Specialist reflects on doctor cousin's move to work in NZ

Dzulkefly concerned over doctor resignations, lays out retention steps

Govt to fast-track filling 4.3k healthcare positions, says PM