Over 10,000 contract doctors won't turn up to work tomorrow, says group

SHAH ALAM - More than 10,000 contract doctors are expected to be absent from work for three days starting tomorrow to attend a planned strike against the government, a group claims.

The April 3 to 5 strike is organised by Mogok Doktor Malaysia and say they will not turn up to work.

"More than 10,000 contract doctors will be joining (the strike). There will be no walkout or demonstration, we will just not turn up to work continuously for three days," the group told Sinar Daily.

The group consisting of government contract doctors have warned the public of longer waiting times at government hospitals and clinics on those dates through its Instagram page.

They will take medical or emergency leave as a way to show protests against an unfair system and low wages, the group said.

While not encouraging demonstrations or flash mobs, the group added doctors who want to resign could do so all at once too.

In a separate post, they said most of contract doctors attached with the Health Ministry participated in Hartal Doktor Kontrak movement two years ago.

The group wants the ministry to grant all contract medical officers permanent posts and an increase on-call rate.

They want the ministry to resolve severe doctor shortage issue at all public hospitals and health clinics, an auto-reduction in compulsory service to three years and a reduction in the long working hours.