The Malaysian Insight

A TOTAL of 163 medical officers (MOs) in Selangor had quit from the service between January and July this year for various reasons, including leaving for greener pastures in other fields, Selangor Health Director Dr Sha’ari Ngadiman said today.

Downplaying news reports of doctors giving 24 hours’ notice, he said there are sundry other reasons why MOs resign, adding that some of them have gotten better offers with higher salaries elsewhere.

“Some wanted to inherit the clinics owned by their families. Some have changed their professions. 

“I have met MOs who became photographers and were no longer interested in being a MO. There was also one who was more interested (in running) a computer shop and he said that the income (is) three times more than what he was getting,” he said at the joint press conference with Health Minister Dr Adham Baba and other top ministry officials today.

The Malaysian Insight reported that 10 doctors from the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR), Klang have quit over the past three past weeks, all of whom submitted 24-hour resignation notices.

They cited burnout, a lack of career opportunities, and overload of stress due to surging number of Covid-19 patients as their reasons for quitting.

Ministry of Health (MoH) secretary-general Mohd Shafiq Abdullah said the resignation trend is high as between 2014 and 2020, a total of 900 MOs had resigned for the reasons given by Sha’ari.

“We hope MOs will be loyal to the service especially during the Covid-19 pandemic,” Shafiq said.

He added that the offer for contract health workers announced by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will allow MoH to review the career pathway of contract MOs.

Muhyiddin said the government has decided to extend the contract of MOs and dentists who have been accepted into specialist training to a maximum term of four years.

This extension applies to those who have been accepted to undergo specialist training within the first two years of their contract term, he said.

“As an immediate resolution, the cabinet has decided to offer a two-year contract of service to medical officers, dentists and pharmacists who have completed their mandatory service to ensure continuation to their service and as preparation for their specialist training,” the prime minister said in a statement today

His statement comes in the wake of a doctors’ group threatening to protest if a resolution is not found to the longstanding issue of permanent posting for contract doctors.

Muhyiddin said a four-year contract term will ensure that the officers will be able to complete their respective specialist training.

The cabinet has also decided to raise certain benefits for contract officers so that it is on par with permanent officers, including being paid salary while on study leave and given sponsorship, which are equivalent to perks given under the Federal Training Award Scheme (Hadiah Latihan Persekutuan), as well as fully-paid study leave.

MOs, dentists, and pharmacists on contract will also be entitled to benefits such as special leave for medical duty, sick leave, and travel stipends, among others. – July 23, 2021.