The Malaysian Insight

UNIVERSITI Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) has issued a directive to ensure that medical officers undergoing graduate training do not participate in strikes as it may disrupt treatment of patients.

The hospital’s deputy director (Clinical) Dr Mohammad Saleh Yahya said in an internal circular dated June 30 sighted by The Malaysian Insight that the management takes note of the Code Black campaign launched by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).

“The management of UMMC would like to remind that medical officers undergoing graduate training are front-liners and they should not participate in the strike (hartal) organised by certain groups which can disrupt the process of treatment of patients at UMMC, especially with the Covid-19 situation which is becoming more adverse,” he said in the circular addressed to heads of department and staff.

“On that note, the Health Ministry is working towards resolving the issue faced by contract medical officers,” he added.

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

Code Black campaign will run from July 1-12, culminating in “Black Monday” on July 12.

The group requested that supporters change their personal 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 share the news.

Doctors  were told to go to work as usual wearing black on July 12.

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.

However, no street protest will be held as doctors will continue to work and patient care will not be jeopardised.

Another group of doctors, known as #HartalDoktorKontrak who are also dissatisfied with the contract system, will be submitting a memorandum to the Health Ministry on July 1.

This group has decided to strike by not showing up to work on July 26, if the Health Ministry does not give in to its demand to resolve the problem faced by contract MOs.

Both these protests are not linked to one another.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said the ministry will take the issue of contract MOs to the cabinet meeting. – June 30, 2021.