The Malaysian Insight

WITH a Code Black campaign looming by one group of doctors and another planning a strike, Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said the cabinet will be discussing the issue of permanent postings for contract medical officers.

“The issue of postings for more than 23,000 contract medical officers will be brought to the cabinet meeting,” he said in a Facebook post.

The Malaysian Insight is seeking confirmation whether the issue will be discussed at the cabinet meeting today. The weekly cabinet meetings are usually held on Wednesdays.

Absorbing contract MOs permanently into the civil service has been a longstanding issue.

Between December 2016 and May 31, 2021, a total of 23,077 UD41 contract medical officers were appointed to undergo graduate training and compulsory service.

Out of that number, only 789 have been given permanent posting.

The Code Black campaign was launched by the Malaysian Medical Association’s Section Concerning House Officers, Medical Officers and Specialists (Schomos) as a sign of protest against what it sees as an unfair contract medical officer (MO) system.

“It has been nearly five years since December 2016 when the first batch of contract doctors started work. The pandemic has strained the system and shown us how important our contract doctors are,” MMA Schomos said.

Multiple meetings have been held, letters sent and statements were made and there is still no clear and firm answer from the government with regards to the future and welfare of our healthcare workers,” it added.

The Code Black campaign will run from July 1 to July 12, culminating in ‘Black Monday’ on July 12.

The group requested that supporters change their personal social media profile pictures, company or institution logo to black or monochrome for the first 12 days of the campaign, visit the MMA Schomos Facebook page for latest information and updates regarding contract doctors, and help to share the news.

On July 12, doctors were told to go to work as usual wearing black.

They were also urged to hold a placard: “We stand with contract healthcare workers” and post pictures on social media with the hashtags #saveMYcontractHCW, #CodeBlackMY and #BlackMondayMY only.

The MMA Schomos said the colour black was chosen as a symbolism to mourn the bright young talents Malaysia has lost to other countries and to recognise the injustice faced by all contract healthcare workers in Malaysia.

The Malaysian Insight understands that the Code Black campaign does not support striking as a protest action.

The HartalDoktorKontrak Strike, meanwhile, is organised independently by other doctors who plan to strike on July 26 if the Health Ministry does not resolve the issue of permanent posting.

The group is also expected to submit a memorandum to the Ministry of Health on July 1.

This particular topic has also gained traction on social media, especially on Twitter. – June 30, 2021.