Appoint Health Sec Gen Immediately Mma Tells Govt

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MMA president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said the health ministry needs a secretary-general to help it navigate all the urgent challenges it is facing. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged the health ministry to immediately fill its vacant secretary-general position.
MMA president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said it was concerned that former secretary-general Harjeet Singh, who retired on Feb 28, had not been replaced.
“It is indeed of great concern that at this time when the health ministry is faced with all sorts of challenges, there is no secretary-general.”
He said these challenges included the contract doctor issue, a possible strike by contract medical officers, Pharmaniaga Bhd’s financial woes and overcrowding at public healthcare facilities.
“We believe this key position should be filled soon as there are already many young and capable candidates suitable for the job,” Muruga said in a statement today.
A group known as “Mogok Doktor Malaysia” has claimed that 8,000 contract doctors would take part in a strike next month and also threatened that these healthcare workers would resign en masse.
The group said those on strike would take emergency or medical leave from April 3 to April 5 as a sign of protest.
At the same time, Pharmaniaga, the concession holder for the provision of medicines and medical supplies to government hospitals and clinics, has not paid some of its suppliers.
The group had also fallen under the PN17 classification for companies in distress after it recorded its largest quarterly net loss of RM664.39 million in the fourth quarter ending Dec 31, 2022. - FMT

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