Its been awhile. And I decided to dedicate the first post of
this year to my fellow comrades, those who decided to keep pushing until
justice is served , those who decided that our lives matter as much as those
who came before us, and those whom we treat wholeheartedly.
The contract workers ( read: the contract doctors )
Ever since long time ago, the core of every doctor’s
principle from the day they they’re called ‘ Doctors ’, was implemented into
the Hippocratic oath. The infamous well versed oath that highlighted that the
main principle as a doctor during practice was not to treat, not to cure, but instead,
to do no harm. ( original latin word: Primum non nocere )
And this great principle has lead many of us to be so
unselfishly willing to go beyond to do what is best to those in need of medical
attention.
They were spoken about not to do harm to patients, and many
have benefit from this principle. Unfortunately little did we noticed, how the
flaw in this principle is that despite it prevents harm to patients, it has
caused harm to us doctors, specifically speaking; contract doctors.
1. The inability to pursue
further career for specialization
One of the main criteria in order to be accepted for post
graduate study (to be able to attain the ‘doktor pakar’ level) is to be a
permanent doctor. And it’s safe to say 30% of all the practicing doctors are
now not eligible. And the numbers are rising.
2. The stagnant
payment and rank progression
Government officers will have a steady inclination of rank within
the hierarchy and with that, the raise in pay grade. But being a contract
officer, your pay is stuck with whatever that was given in the contract. And instead
of having the contracts being upgraded, they are just renewed annually until to
a point the government decided that enough is enough and its time for you to go.
I guess that is the nature of all contract workers? Of course there will never
be a change to permanent status in the near time as some of our colleagues in
the pharmacist’s and dental department had to go as their contract expires.
Not to mention the immediate termination of contract is
always hanging upon us should we fail to deliver the task as a doctor, or a
minor error is done. We have so much to lose, and so little to gain. But here
we are, still trying our best, hoping to treat, and along the way, having to
please unnecessary people.
3. The disgraceful discrimination
So often during practice, we encounter the kind of people
who only sees the value of a person from what they see on paper rather than the
person himself.
‘you pangkat apa? UD41? SAYA UD52 TAU! Saya nak cakap dengan
UD52 sahaja. Saya nak UD52 sahaja yang rawat saya!’
People like this makes you realize how useless an ego to a
person may be.
And of course, the discrimination among peers with different
grades, but with similar working environment and job scope. How they thought just
because we were born late and became a doctor later than them gives them the
right to scrutinize and bully us. As naïve at it sounds, it’s hard to dismiss
when the phrase keeps on echoing in our head everytime they speak as such:
‘u all kena ingat, u all ni contract je’
_____________________________________________________
But that ends now, hopefully with this peaceful movement
will shake up the authority to realize ignoring the rights of its doctors is
WRONG. Some of us left the ministry knowing that there is no hope for future doctors.
And then there are us, staying, hoping that in the near future something will
change, and everyone gets the fair treatment.
Being a doctor may be a dream to some people (or their
parents). But the current reality is that is it has not been the most glamorous
or most glorious job there is. But rather
a constant struggle with what you need to do, what you deserve, and what the
patient needs. And usually it’s the latter. It’s a sad reality, a reality that
reflects a worrying future. Hopefully this ends soon.
Here’s to a better healthcare system, for a brighter future.
