KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 12,800 contract doctors are expected to be absorbed into permanent positions within the next three years, says the Prime Minister.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PH-Tambun) said that the government through the Budget 2023 has allocated an amount of RM19.7bil in emolument, which saw an increase of RM3bil from previous years.
“Of this RM3bil additional allocation, RM1.2bil was allocated for pay rise, RM600mil for contract appointment and RM1.1bil for absorption to permanent positions.
“For 2023, it means that a total of RM1.7bil is allocated for recruiting more contract doctors and to absorb existing ones to permanent positions,” he said in response to Datuk Seri Madius Tangau (PH-Tuaran) in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (April 4).
With the allocation in place, Anwar said that 12,800 contract doctors will be in permanent positions in three years.
“This year we have absorbed 4,300 contract doctors into permanent positions.
“I hope that everyone can understand that we don’t have any intention to look down (on the doctors’ demands) as they have been serving us well,” he added.
Anwar also announced that on-call allowance will be extended to medical officers who are on duty at six public health clinics that are involved in the overcrowding reduction project.
The extension of operating hours at the clinics were among the initiatives by the Health Ministry to address overcrowding at hospitals’ Emergency Department. – The Star