Mma Hopes Kj Settles Longtime Healthcare Issues In 100 Days

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The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged Khairy Jamaluddin to resolve long-standing issues, including the lack of job security faced by junior contract doctors in less than 100 days after he is sworn in as the health minister.
Its president Dr M Subramaniam said MMA anticipates fresh, new and innovative ideas from the ministry under Khairy's leadership.
"We wish to welcome him into his new role as we look forward to working more closely with the Health Ministry. 
"Khairy (above) had proved himself a capable leader in past ministries as the youth and sports minister and more recently, the science, technology and innovation minister and minister in charge of the National Immunisation Programme (NIP).
"The health ministry is probably the most important ministry at this point in time as the country struggles to overcome the pandemic. We hope the setting up of a health commission to steer Malaysia out of the pandemic will be top on the minister's agenda," he said in a statement today. 
Subramaniam pointed out that there are many longtime issues involving the healthcare system including permanent positions for contract doctors, which the association hopes can be addressed by the new health minister. 
"Perhaps Khairy could be the minister to once and for all, resolve this issue - in less than 100 days!

"We also hope there will be greater recognition of the important role of primary care in our healthcare ecosystem as well as the need for increased public-private cooperation and collaboration going forward in the management of care for the nation," he added.




MMA president Dr M Subramaniam
Khairy, who was the science, technology and innovation ministry under former premier Muhyiddin Yassin's cabinet, was named as the new health minister to replace Dr Adham Baba, who will take over Khairy's old portfolio.
It was reported that a total of 23,000 junior contract doctors were awaiting offers for permanent posts.
Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry had high hopes that contract doctors would be given permanent employment in “two years or less” as the Pension Act would be amended and tabled in Parliament.



On Aug 25, Health Ministry secretary-general Mohd Shafiq Abdullah said a third of 300 permanent positions offered to contract doctors this month had been rejected. - Mkini

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