For Future Doctors: Is this a Tragedy or a Comedy……….[html]Since my last article in June 2019, there has been a lot of happenings in our country, as well as in other parts of the world. Is it for better or worst, only time will tell. The tragedy that is affecting our young graduates is something I predicted almost 15 years ago. As usual, our […]
Since my last article in June 2019, there has been a lot of happenings in our country, as well as in other parts of the world. Is it for better or worst, only time will tell. The tragedy that is affecting our young graduates is something I predicted almost 15 years ago. As usual, our suggestions and warning to MOH was just for filing purposes with no definitive action or plan. It was all about money and how much you can make out of our society’s ignorance and demand. Over the last few months, I have been watching and reading numerous articles in the newspaper in regards to housemanship waiting period and what is happening to those who have completed housemanship and floating around while waiting for MOH/SPA to make a decision whether, you are going to be absorbed permanently into civil service or just an extension of the contract. The frustration among the doctors is palpable but trust me, it will not just end there!
Early this month, there was a circular from MOH:
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I find this circular very interesting. As I wrote in my article dated 15/04/2019, the first batch which started their contract housemanship in December 2016, most completed their housemanship end of last year and eligible to apply for a permanent post. Unfortunately, they were waiting for months. While they were waiting, they were kept in the same hospital as a floating medical officer with the same salary as a housemen. As long as the contract is not renewed, they will not receive the U44 promotion. They will remain in U41 as per the earlier contract. The first contract was for 3 years, to cater for any extension of housemanship. That’s the reason the contract has to be renewed after you receive the full registration as only then you can receive a U44 salary. Fortunately, the bright side is the fact that you still have a job till the contract expires.
In June 2019, I was informed that almost 500 of them were absorbed into permanent civil service and only about 50 were given extended contract to complete their compulsory service. Those who were given permanent post were mostly transferred out to where the post is available. A lot of them ended up in Sabah and Sarawak. Either you take it or leave it! There were actually more than 1000 doctors who had applied, following completion of housemanship, end of 2018. What happened to the rest? From my understanding, till September 2019, there were no news about the rest. While waiting, the number of applicants has been increasing as subsequent batches of contract officers began to complete their housemanship. What a mess we are in!
Then, out of no where, the circular above was issued by MOH, dated 30/09/2019. The circular basically says that while waiting for the decision, you can now be transferred to another hospital, klinik kesihatan aka anywhere!. You will not be in the same hospital as a floating officer. It also says that you will be notified of the decision of your application 3 months before your 1st contract ends (which is 3 years from your date of starting housemanship). Basically it just confirms that you will remain a floating medical officer till about 9 months after completing your housemanship (assuming you complete in 2 years on the dot) but in a different location!
The most interesting part of the letter is the fact that, if you manage to secure a permanent post, you will likely be transferred yet again to another location depending on availability of the vacant post that you are being given! Basically means, you will be transferred again within a year to another location! Is this a tragedy or a comedy? The best is yet to come: those who receive extension of contract can remain at the same place where they were transferred as a floating officer! In another word (the way I interpret this), your life in civil service ends there within another year aka completing 4 years of compulsory service. It’s just a diplomatic way of putting it !
All these just points to a simple fact: medicine is not a guaranteed job anymore. The market will be flooded with doctors and no one is going to be bothered whether you have a job or not. How many of them, who did not get a permanent post (can be about 2-3000/year) going to end up opening a clinic? As per my last article in June 2019, the GPs are already struggling to survive!
This is not something that is happening in Malaysia alone. In August 2019, Singapore Medical Council
