THE Health Ministry is still looking for short-term contract staff to fill numerous positions to serve in the battle against Covid-19, said director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

“We are offering a short-term contract to get more staff for more than 1,000 positions,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

The ministry previously called for volunteers, including medical practitioners from the private sector and retirees, to serve in the public health sector.

The last call was made in October, when the ministry said it required volunteers, including doctors, microbiological science officers, environmental health officers and assistants, nurses, assistant medical officers, lab technicians, radiographers and public health assistants.

It is understood that healthcare workers on the frontlines are burning out as the patient load continues to rise and after almost a year of active service.

Some hospitals are also dealing with a manpower crunch, as staff are deployed to low-risk quarantine and treatment centres.

Former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye was recently reported as saying that the ministry could hire 10,000 youths on a short-term basis to help with contact tracing.

“There are so many jobless graduates, contract healthcare staff and medical, nursing and pharmacy graduates,” he said. – January 12, 2021.