CONTRACT doctors are now eligible for scholarships to do specialist training under the Hadiah Latihan Persekutuan (HLP) sponsorship, director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.

He said on Twitter that the Health Ministry hopes to have amicable short-term and long-term solutions soon.

“Discussions and engagements with other ministries and agencies are ongoing. InshaAllah,” he posted.

Earlier today, the Hartal Doktor Kontrak expressed its gratitude to Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and his team for delivering on their promise.

This, the group said, was in regard to ensuring that contract doctors will be eligible to apply for the HLP sponsorship in order for them to specialise in their respective field of interest.

“YB Khairy Jamaluddin has indeed proved his mettle and determination to solve this issue that had plagued the doctors for the last five years,” the group posted on Facebook.

“We hope that the terms and conditions to apply for the HLP will be ironed out soon. We also believe that Khairy will take the necessary action to solve the other remaining issues faced by the doctors.”

The group said the other issues include transparent criteria and selection for contract doctors to be absorbed into permanent posts.

This includes the need for equal perks and benefits similar to their permanent counterparts, such as time-based promotion, hazard leave, cancer leave and other benefits currently unavailable to contract doctors.

The doctors also called for permanent posts with Employees’ Provident Fund contributions for all contract doctors by amending the Pension Act.

The group has on several occasions demanded permanent postings and fair treatment for all contract medical officers as the issue has existed since 2016, when the contract system was introduced by the then government.

Last year, Khairy said the plight of contract doctors in government service who are demanding to be made permanent staff will be raised in the cabinet.

He said a solution to this was needed to prevent the issue from persisting.

On November 9, he said the government would offer permanent positions to 4,186 contract medical officers.

Only 789 of the 23,077 contract medical officers in service since 2016 have been offered permanent employment. – January 15, 2022.