KUALA LUMPUR: The review over the on-call allowances for doctors is in its final stages.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Lukanisman Awang Sauni said the review, once completed, would also be presented to the central agency Public Service Department (PSD) for further consideration.
"Improving the on-call rate is one of the 100 day key performance indicators (KPI) for the ministry.
"(And) the ministry is currently at the final stage (of reviewing the rate) before presenting it to the central agency for consideration," he said during the ministry's winding-up speech on the royal address debate in Dewan Rakyat, today.
On Feb 4, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad reportedly said the new on-call rate for doctors would be announced soon.
He said the issue had been discussed in the cabinet and a decision was reached following a reevaluation of the current rates, which were last reviewed in 2012.
In November last year, the Health Ministry announced that it would maintain the current on-call rate for doctors as it was considered sufficient due to other existing allowances provided.
This includes RM750 per month for critical services incentive; specialist incentive payment (RM2,200 to RM3,100 a month, depending on grade); and allowance for medical officers on duty after office hours at health clinics and hospital emergency departments (RM80 per hour).
The ministry also said that the government's current priority was to address allowance rates for service schemes that received less than RM100 per month.
The announcement came after the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) suggested a 178 per cent increase in the on-call claims for doctors on weekends at a town hall session with the former minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa in February, last year.
The proposal is aimed at increasing the rate to RM25 per hour from the current rate of RM9.16.