Allowance issue expected to be finalised by June
KOTA BARU: The issue regarding the increase in on-call duty allowance for health workers is expected to be finalised by June at the latest, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister said a committee chaired by Tan Sri Dr Abu Bakar Sulaiman, who is a former Health director-general, is currently in the final stages of negotiations.
'The committee is actively discussing and is in the final phase of negotiations. We hope a decision can be reached soon.
'I understand the workload of health workers who work around the clock and hope that all processes can be completed by June,' he told a press conference after opening the state-level 2025 Madani Afiat Programme in Tunjong here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Dzulkefly said this when asked to comment on the latest developments regarding the allowance for health workers.
He said the welfare of health workers has always been a priority for him since helming the ministry.
'Waiting is torture. I hope this matter can be concluded in May because I know they are working very hard.
'We have reached the end of the discussion. God willing, this time we will resolve the matter,' he said.
It was previously reported that the ministry had received approval to increase the allowance for health workers.
It is compensation for the additional responsibilities carried out by medical officers in treating patients while on-call at hospitals after normal working hours.
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