by ASILA JALIL / pic by TMR FILE

THE Cabinet has agreed to offer a two-year service extension to contract doctors upon completion of their compulsory term.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this was a short-term solution to the recent issues raised by the group on their employment status.

He said the Health Ministry (MoH) had tabled a proposal during the Cabinet meeting on July 14 regarding the contract scheme for medical doctors and officers, dental officers and pharmacists.

He had ordered MoH and other relevant ministries and agencies to draft comprehensive and inclusive immediate, short-term and long-term plans to address the concerns faced by the medical staffers.

“The Cabinet also agreed to extend the contract appointments for a maximum period of four years for medical officers and dental officers that are accepted to pursue specialist studies during the first two years of the contract.

“This step is to ensure every officer can complete their respective specialist studies,” he said in a statement today.

The PM added that the government is aware of the concerns within the group regarding their career path in the medical sector.

Under the contract scheme, medical officers are offered a five-year contract which includes three years of housemanship and two years of service as junior medical officers in the public sector.

To ensure a fair career path for contract doctors, the Cabinet has agreed for the contracts to be managed similarly as that of permanent officers where they are also offered fully paid study leave as well as sponsorship equivalent to fully paid study leave and Federal Training Awards.

The statement came after contract doctors expressed their dissatisfaction with the contract scheme which they claimed hindered their career progression.

The junior doctors also planned to go on strike on Monday to protest against the scheme.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba had previously said there were 35,216 contract doctors comprising 23,077 medical officers, 5,000 dental officers and 7,139 pharmacists.