By Amrahi Buang
The Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) strongly echoes the media statement published by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) on June 23, calling for a thorough review and revamp of the contract system to ensure a more transparent evaluation and selection system for contract healthcare professionals to be in place for the betterment of public healthcare services in Malaysia.
MPS would like to highlight that 1,966 contract pharmacists, while given the opportunity to continue serving the country for another year based on the extension announced by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba on Feb 25, are still loomed in dismay over the uncertainties of their future.
In a recent survey conducted by the MPS Young Pharmacists Chapter (participated by 563 respondents), contract pharmacists continued to seek clarity in terms of job security and transparency on the selection criteria for permanent positions.
While it is a positive sign to see some improvements made for contract dental officers (with the offer of UG43 contract positions), some contract pharmacists (from 2016) who were extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are yet to be given the same level of remuneration under the grade UF43 (even after 4.5 years of service, and being on the same level as permanent pharmacists in the number of years of service and workload).
The lack of transparency and fairness in how promotions are done needs to be immediately addressed.
On the other hand, much like the contract medical officers, career advancement opportunities for contract pharmacists have also been severely stifled due to the three-year contract cap, leading to many exiting the system prematurely and unable to pursue their desired career pathway in the government.
In the meantime, while MPS welcomes the remark by the Health Ministry’s (MOH) Secretary-General today on the contentious issue in the first paragraph of their media statement, we would like to reiterate that any ethnic-driven policies should not be entertained when it comes to healthcare.
Such discriminating policy ideas are moving backward and unacceptable in this multiracial country – saving lives should be ‘colour blind’.
As the whole nation is battling hard with the worsening situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists – despite not being well-acknowledged by the current healthcare ecosystem – have been steadfast in serving the country to ensure the continuity of pharmacotherapy and immunisation efforts are well-maintained.
It is never an exaggeration to describe pharmacists as an integral part of the chain of patient care. Aside from its role in procurement, a pharmacist is also the healthcare professional who safeguards the provision of pharmacotherapy via pharmaceutical care in every step of the medication supply and administration chain.
These include the consultative role of clinical pharmacists in managing complex clinical cases together with doctors and specialists in the ward, identifying possible interactions and precautions about medication therapy and COVID-19 vaccines, patient education and many others.
While pharmacists have not always been given the limelight in our fight, let’s not forget that we are non-inferior to other counterparts in the medical field and deserve equal attention to resolve this long-standing issue.
Contract pharmacists – steadfast in serving the rakyat – are calling for YOUR attention too, our dear Government.
We look forward to a firm and timely resolution to all concerns raised above and will be ready to offer our suggestions and solutions as the voice of the pharmacist profession.
Amrahi Buang is the president Of the Malaysian Pharmacists Society.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
