Bid to attract more specialists in public hospitals

The Star

KUALA TERENGGANU: Public hospital specialists have been receiving an allowance increment of between RM300 and RM700 per month since Jan 1.

The Government is hoping the move will be able to attract more specialists to continue serving in public hospitals.

Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the allowance revision was based on the heavy load and responsibilities of the specialists.

“Furthermore, allowances for specialists have not been reviewed for the past 19 years,” he told reporters after opening a health programme yesterday.

Liow said more than 4,000 specialists working in the public hospitals would benefit from the increment. For example, specialists in grade 41 would have their allowance increased from RM1,300 to RM1,600 per month.

For those in grade 53 and 54, their allowances would be increased from RM2,200 to RM2,800.

Specialists in the “Utama” category, would be getting RM700 extra every month from RM2,400 to RM3,100.

Liow said the ministry also agreed to increase the on-call as well as location and hardship allowance (Elaun Lokasi Megikut Tahap Kesusa­han).

“It is pending the approval from the Public Services Department. The Government is concerned with the responsibility and difficulties faced by the medical officers who are on-call duty after working hours, or during public holidays, as well as those posted to rural areas,” he said.

He said the ministry also had increased the per flight allowance of nurses in Sabah and Sarawak.

Before the increment, the nurses would get about RM10 to RM15 per flight according to their grades. Now, it is RM30 per flight.

“We think it is only fair to give them the same allowance as the doctors as they are also giving the professional services to the people.”