SIBU: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Education Bureau has recorded six similar cases of doctors whose contracts were not renewed by the Ministry of Health (MoH) without any reason given.
SUPP Dudong branch chairman Wong Ching Yong said that they received emails on the matter after their press conference which was held on Jan 18.
He said that the plight of the doctors comprising two medical officers (MO) and four dental officers were similar.
He refused to disclose their full names.
“They stated that no reason was given by the MoH as to why their contracts were not renewed. One of the doctors has passed the Fellowship of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons (FRCS) Part 1 Radiology test.
“All six have no disciplinary issues. One MO scored over 85 marks in ‘Sasaran Kerja Tahunan’ consistently for three years in the annual appraisal report prepared by the relevant department head.
“MoH discreetly prefers MOs who did their housemanship locally. MOs who did their housemanship overseas will not be considered favourably,” he told a press conference at SUPP headquarters in Kampung Datu here today.
He said that SUPP Education Bureau noted that Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad on Jan 19 had said during a press conference that he would personally investigate the discontinuation of contracts involving four MOs.
The bureau hoped the minister will act swiftly to right the wrongs to end the unfairness and the anguish caused to the four young doctors, two of whom were from Sarawak, he said.
“MoH must have a written guideline on the criteria to confirm MOs as permanent staff, MOH must respect the recommendations of the local hospitals which know best the actual situation on the ground,
“For hospitals in Sarawak, MOs should be given priority when it comes to the confirmation of permanent posts in Sarawak hospitals,” he said.
He said that they strongly support the suggestion by Minister of Local Government and Housing Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian for the federal government to return Sarawak’s autonomy in the management of its health administration which was taken back in the 1980s.
Also present at the press conference were SUPP deputy president Datuk Chieng Buong Toon, SUPP Pelawan branch chairman Clarence Ting and Bukit Assek Youth chief Joseph Chieng. — Borneo Post
