THE Hartal Doktor Kontrak group is adamant it will proceed with another nationwide strike, despite the Health Ministry’s announcement today that more than 4,000 contract healthcare workers will be absorbed into permanent positions.

The group has on several occasions demanded permanent postings and fair treatment for all contract medical officers.

Only 789 of the 23,077 contract medical officers in service since 2016 have been offered permanent positions, leaving the remainder with an uncertain future.

“Nothing much, nothing new,” spokesperson for the group, Dr Mustapha Kamal A. Aziz, told The Malaysian Insight.

He said the group will not change its position on the strike.

“We will proceed,” he added.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today that the government will absorb 4,186 contract medical personnel into permanent service but the Hartal Doktor Kontrak group wants all contract workers absorbed into permanent positions.

It also want clarity on the criteria for appointment and the offers to be in black and white.

“The Public Service Department is ready to admit 4,186 medical officers as permanent staff from the 10,583 who have completed their contracts of service,” the health minister told the Dewan Rakyat during minister’s question time today.

He said that this will comprise 3,586 medical officers, 300 dentistry officers and 300 pharmacists.

He added the move will cost the government RM378 million.

A second strike was slated to take place in December after healthcare workers were dissatisfied with the promises made under the Budget 2022.

Mustapha told The Malaysian Insight on November 2, that healthcare workers are feeling increasingly dispensable.

“We feel that we are treated like disposables,” he said.

Many of them were astounded when it was revealed during the tabling of Budget 2022 tabled on Friday that only 10,000 healthcare workers would be considered for a contract extension.

“Hartal 2.0 will be under way soon. It comes after a dismal display by the Ministry of Health, which is unable to protect its own,” he said.

The government has proposed a two-year extension to the two-year contracts of 10,000 contract medical doctors, dentists and pharmacists, but it was not the long-term solution that the doctors sought from the government.

The objections also come on the back of the news that the ministry is due to receive RM32.4 billion from the annual budget.

On July 26, hundreds of healthcare workers at public hospitals nationwide staged a walkout to protest the contract system.

Hartal Doktor Kontrak had previously submitted a memorandum to the government demanding permanent positions for all contract medical officers permanent positions and the official criteria for the appointment. – November 9, 2021.