KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) is rallying the public to support the "Code Black" protest for contract healthcare workers facing job insecurity.
MMA president Professor Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said only 789 out of 23,077 contract doctors have been given permanent positions in the country's public healthcare system in 2016.
"The pandemic has strained the system and shown us how important our contract doctors are.
"However, it has been nearly five years since December 2016 when the first batch of contract doctors started work.
"Multiple meetings have been held, letters sent and statements were made and there is still no clear and firm answer from the government with regards to the future and welfare of our healthcare workers," he said in a statement today.
For almost five years, he said, contract healthcare workers have been asking for a clear career/postgraduate pathway to specialisation, detailed and transparent criteria for permanent posts, equal and fair treatment between contract and permanent staff and job security for all doctors and allied healthcare workers.
Dr Subramniam said, Code Black, which refers to a hospital emergency code, was selected to recognise the plight of contract healthcare workers in Malaysia and to "mourn" for bright young talents that have already left the country.
He said, members of the public can show their solidarity for the Code Black protest through various ways, between July 1 - July 12.
"You can change your personal profile pictures to black or monochrome. You can change your company/institution logo to black or monochrome.
"Visit MMA Section Concerning House Officers, Medical Officers, and Specialists (SCHOMOS) Facebook page for latest information and updates regarding contract doctors and help to share news," he requested.
MMA, he said, has also declared July 12 as Black Monday.
Therefore, he urged people to wear black-coloured attire to work and share pictures of them holding placards saying "We stand with Contract Healthcare Workers" with the hashtags #saveMYcontractHCW #BlackMondayMY and #CodeBlackMY only.
Another separate hartal (protest) is slated to be organised by a group of local contract doctors from both private and public hospitals to force the government to provide fairer compensation and benefits to them.
The strike that would consist of three phases will start after the group publishes a memorandum on July 1.