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SHAH ALAM – Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) has welcomed the government’s commitment to end the interim contract doctor system, following the announcement that more than 9,000 contract doctors will be offered permanent positions in 2027.
In a statement, HDK said the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the 2027 Budget tabling marked a significant development for doctors who had faced years of career uncertainty since the contract system was introduced in 2016.
It said many doctors had spent years waiting for permanent positions, while others had left the public service in search of better opportunities and greater job security.
HDK thanked Anwar and the MADANI Government for addressing an issue that had affected the medical profession for nearly a decade.
However, it stressed that the commitment must be followed by concrete action, including clear timelines, fair eligibility criteria and proper recognition for doctors who had served under the contract system for years.
These measures were necessary to ensure that no doctor was left behind during the transition, it said.
HDK added that ending the interim contract system should form part of broader efforts to improve working conditions, provide clearer career progression and retain experienced doctors in the public healthcare system.
It said it would continue to hold the government accountable for ensuring the commitment was implemented effectively.
“After ten years, our doctors have waited long enough. They deserve more than promises; they deserve a system that delivers fairness, security and dignity,” it said.
“The announcement has given us hope. Now, let implementation give that hope its meaning.”
