SEREMBAN: The number of civil servants in the Government health sector should be increased to cope with the operation of all departments under the Ministry of Health (MOH).
Its Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the health sector in the country was in a ‘needful’ stage of staff, especially for public health facilities, to meet the increasing workload.
“Nine months after leading MOH, I find that there was a need to increase the number of civil servants in the health sector.
“We really need more workers because of the challenges and burden faced by the existing staff in this sector which is also growing,” he said.
He said the current 280,000 civil servants in the health sector were inadequate to help provide smooth and excellent service to the people.
“We have received a number of allocations from the government and we are drawing up plans to increase the staff. We need more, not less,” he said at a press conference after a working visit to Tuanku Jaafar Seremban Hospital (HTJS) here today.
Dr Dzulkefly said this when asked to comment on Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s statement that the size of the civil service in the country was too big and should be reduced in line with the country’s current position.
In another development, Dr Dzulkefly said the government would bear the cost of dialysis treatment for patients from the Mawar Medical Centre (MMC) of RM500,000 every month, after the centre’s operation was closed this month.
“A total of 138 patients have been stationed at government hospitals in the state and 136 are receiving treatment at private medical centres.
“We also receive assistants from medical workers from five states - Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Pahang, Johor and Melaka - to assist patients needing dialysis treatments,” he said.
Asked on the progress of the Rembau Hospital, Dr Dzulkefly said the project, which began in September 2013 at a cost of RM96 million was expected to be completed in June.
“It was to be completed this month, but due to some problems the contractor is not able to complete it on schedule.
“We have also imposed a fine of RM17,535 a day on the contractor for the delay,” he said.