KUALA LUMPUR: The government has agreed for the on-call allowance to be extended to medical officers at six health clinics involved in the pilot project to tackle the overcrowding issue in hospitals.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said it is also agreed that the payment of the allowance is extended to include weekends.
"I have also asked the Public Service Department (PSD) and the Ministry of Health (MoF) to look into this facility so that the on-call allowance could be extended to all other than medical officers," he said during Minister's Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat sitting here today.
Anwar said this in reply to a supplementary question by Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau (PH-Tuaran) who wanted to know whether the government is planning to raise the on-call allowance for doctors in the country.
The Prime Minister said even though the current rate of the on-call allowance is appropriate, it needs to be raised as the allowance did not include doctors working in health clinics or hospital emergency departments.
On the long-standing proposal to absorb contract doctors to hold permanent positions in the public service, Anwar said the government expected 12,800 out of the 20,330 existing contract doctors would be absorbed within the next three years.
"This year, we expect 4,300 contract doctors to be absorbed.
"We cannot afford to completely solve this issue this year, but what we can do is provide an additional allocation of RM1.7 billion from the RM3 billion as emolument expenditure for the Ministry of Health in the 2023 Budget.
"This RM1.7 billion includes the expenditure to absorb and appoint some of the contract doctors to hold permanent positions," he said.
Anwar also expressed his appreciation to all the contract doctors for not going ahead with the plan to go on strike in protest of their pending employment issue.
The Prime Minister, however, said the government remains committed to tackling the issue as the contract doctors have served well and the country is in need of their services.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Tue Apr 04 2023
PM Anwar said the government expected 12,800 out of the 20,330 existing contract doctors would be absorbed within the next three years. - Filepic
Ramsay reveals hundreds of lucky cat statues stolen from new restaurant
Gordon Ramsay says about 477 Japanese cat models called maneki-neko were stolen from his Lucky Cat 22 Bishopsgate restaurant.
Zayn Rayyan case: Two child witnesses complete testimony today
So far, 20 prosecution witnesses, including the two children, have been called for this trial, according to the Deputy Public Prosecutor.
Macron says he will tell Trump not to be weak with Putin in Washington visit
Emmanuel Macron says showing any weakness to Russia's Vladimir Putin would make it harder to deal with China and Iran.
Israeli PM Netanyahu says Hamas will pay for not returning Shiri Bibas
Netanyahu accuse Hamas of acting "in an unspeakably cynical manner" by placing body of a Gaza woman in the coffin instead of Shiri Bibas.
Trump pulls US out of key global climate assessment, sources say
The US is a co-chair along with Malaysia of a working group on climate mitigation, or ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Japan to court Tesla on Nissan investment, FT reports
The group hopes Tesla will invest strategically, believing it's interested in acquiring Nissan's US plants, the report says.
185 children linked to GISB handed over to families - Exco
The children have been handed over to their families on bond with conditions by the court.
IRS fires 6,000 employees as Trump slashes US government
The move will eliminate roughly 6% of the agency's workforce in the midst of the busy tax-filing season.
Elon Musk wields chainsaw at conservative gathering, a gift from Argentina's Milei
This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy, says Elon Musk.
![[OPINION] For never again the world must know more about the Khojaly genocide](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2025-02/41740112820_KhazarUniversity.jpg "[OPINION] For never again the world must know more about the Khojaly genocide")
[OPINION] For never again the world must know more about the Khojaly genocide
For Azerbaijanis, the Khojaly genocide is more than a historical event - it is a collective trauma that shapes their identity and worldview.
Israeli military says body released by Hamas is not of a hostage
Two bodies were identified as infants, but a third, believed to be their mother, Shiri, didn't match any hostage and remains unidentified.
Key takeaways from Trump-Putin talks: Ukraine, energy, NATO, sanctions
Here's what is known so far about what was discussed.
![[COLUMNIST] Whose rights? Islam, eurocentrism and the limits of human rights](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-09/41726025526_UnitedNations.jpg "[COLUMNIST] Whose rights? Islam, eurocentrism and the limits of human rights")
[COLUMNIST] Whose rights? Islam, eurocentrism and the limits of human rights
For as long as rights are understood on Occidental terms, problems would inevitably remain. What is needed is an appreciation of diversity.
Argentina court clears 3 accused in singer Liam Payne's death
The court upheld the pre-trial detention of a hotel employee and a restaurant waiter held since last month.
Spanish ex-soccer boss Rubiales sentenced to pay fine over kiss without consent
Court also acquits Luis Rubiales' three co-defendants accused of attempting to coerce Jenni Hermoso into saying the kiss was consensual.
King’s health significantly improved after treatment - PM
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says he had the opportunity to seek an audience with the King twice during his official visit to Bahrain.
Why Trump wants the US Department of Education shut down
The vast majority of US children attend the country's free public schools, which are a big employer and economic engine.
How did a jet flip upside down on a Toronto runway and everyone survive?
Here is what we know about this accident and similar crashes.
TIMELINE - Trump's remarks on plan to take over Gaza, displace Palestinians
The plan has been condemned globally, with Palestinians, Arab nations and rights experts saying it was tantamount to "ethnic cleansing."
'No to drugs' signboards mooted as condition for concert permit
Datuk Hussein Omar Khan says it was part of their recommendations as efforts to curb drug taking at entertainment events.