THE government will absorb medical personnel numbering 4,186 into permanent service, said Khairy Jamaluddin.

“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 Dewan Rakyat during the minister 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 RM377.5 million.

The Rembau MP said that the government has already allocated RM336 million in next year’s budget and has allocated another RM100 million for 3,000 contract doctors.

He said that the cabinet had already decided on July 14 to extend the contract doctors’ term by two years upon completion of their first two-year term.

Khairy was responding to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim (Port Dickson-PH) as the Hartal Doktor Kontrak are preparing for another protest this month. Anwar also asked about the challenges to hiring them and the additional financial implications on the government.

Meanwhile, Khairy said that the government was still in the process of determining the number of doctors needed.

“Since 2016, all new hires were taken on a contract basis whereupon more than 24,000 were given contracts while only 1,000 were offered permanent posts.

“The government is unsure if it can absorb all the contract doctors and as such, needs to assess its needs before deciding on the next step,” he said.

The minister was responding to Azizah Mohd Dun’s (Beaufort-PN) question on why the government did not offer permanent posts to the contract doctors.

Khairy added that the government has set up a special committee to look into amending the Medical Act, the Dentistry Act and the Pensions Act to resolve the issue. – November 9, 2021.