MP welcomes decision to streamline service grade for contract medical officers
KUCHING: Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii welcomes the the government’s decision to streamline the service grade for contract medical officers from UD41 to UD43 to give them the same emoluments as their permanent counterparts.
However, he said the announcement which was made by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba on Monday, must not be just a mere announcement. Tangible actions and implementations must be done for the sake of our young healthcare workers.
“A decision has already been made in the cabinet under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in Nov 2019, but yet the current government is slow in implementing it.
“The minister must be transparent and clarify when the upgrade will commence. How much will this cost and has it been allocated in the 2021 Budget? Will it also involve all under the UD41 contract who have finished their housemanship, and if not, how many are involved?” he said in a statement yesterday.
He said all these must be clarified and stated clearly in the Budget to prove that it is not merely an announcement.
He also believed that the government should take an extra step in allowing contract workers similar access to perks enjoyed by permanent medical officers as their responsibilities, work loads and risks are the same.
“It is only a policy decision that can be made at the ministrylevel which includes access for them to get special leave such as hazard leave, study leave and so on.
“On top of that, they should be allowed to apply for Hadiah Latihan Persekutuan (HLP) to take up Masters and Specialist degrees at local universities to address the lack of specialists in the country,” he said.
It is only a policy decision that can be made at the ministry-level which includes access for them to get special leave such as hazard leave, study leave and so on. Dr Kelvin Yii
He said the best way to appreciate medical frontliners, especially for their service to the country during the Covid-19 pandemic, was to invest in them and offer them better security of tenure as well as a chance for them to specialise themselves in their desired Masters programme.
“This is, of course, in line with the efforts of the government and hospitals to produce more specialists to address the lack of them nationwide and also to improve the quality of healthcare for our patients,” he added.
Dr Adham on Monday said the decision to streamline the service grade for contract medical officers was in appreciation of the services. The same grade streamlining was also extended to contract dental officers.