LETTER | Contract doctors' predicament a rights issue

LETTER | HDK has been taken to mean Hartal Doktor Kontrak - but here’s my take on HDK - Hak Doktor Kontrak. Allow me to elaborate.

The issue is simple yet complex, the underlying cause for the contract doctor issue is unequal rights. A simple cause yet seemingly “complex and slow” solution - giving rise to the past few months (and years) of heartache and frustration for many.

What are these rights?

• Rights to equal salary and benefits

• Rights to postgraduate training

• Rights to a secure and certain future

• Rights to equal treatment by the administration, work colleagues, etc.

If the government can resolve the above - the contract system can and will be beneficial. If the issues are not solved - even increasing permanent posts will not help the situation.

Imagine if half the contract doctors get permanent positions and the other half remain as contract doctors with the current unequal, unbalanced system. How does that benefit us?

Here’s a bit of advice to the current contract doctors:

1. Equip yourself - While we all have our methods of protesting and fighting for these rights; make sure you are not left behind in the journey of self improvement and ultimately, specialisation.

The government has stated clearly that postgraduate training will be available to all doctors. The details are still not clear and it is indeed very slow moving and messy - but unfortunately this is the chronic reality of government service and will need a major revamp (and years perhaps) to change. Take the professional papers. Attend interviews. Read books. Prepare your CV so as to stand out among the rest.

2. “Exit KKM (Health Ministry)” if you wish to; but please return. The system may have failed you, but after completing training in other countries, do come back to change and revamp the status quo. Many of you that have left are more than capable of replacing the leaders that have failed you. Don’t give up on Malaysia, please.

To the Malaysian government:

Kudos to the new health minister, Khairy Jamaluddin, for being proactive in handling issues surrounding contract doctors (and other healthcare system problems). We urge you to look urgently into this inequality and imbalance among doctors.

Being paid differently, having less benefits, uncertain postgraduate training, etc and many aspects of contract employment have resulted in this split among doctors - contract vs permanent. Some states even have official name tags that bear the word “contract” after “pegawai perubatan siswazah”.

We wish to see “hak sama rata” for all doctors, regardless of contract/permanent status. Let us solve this issue together for the betterment of the country we love and serve.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.