KUALA LUMPUR: An Umno lawmaker wants the Health Minister to prioritise and immediately address the issue of contract doctors and medical officers.

       Datuk Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu) said he was concerned about the nation's public healthcare system and frontliners, many of whom are contract workers, following the surge of Covid-19 cases recently.

       "I even mentioned in my speech on Nov 12 during the Budget debates that the Health Ministry must do something about the plight of over 2,000 contract nurses.

       "The Health Minister at that point replied that immediate action will be taken by the government.

       "Today, we can see the issue of 23,000 contract doctors.

       "I would like to propose to the government that the issue be given focus and made a main priority," he said while debating during the National Recovery Plan session at the special sitting of the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (July 26).

       He also wanted more private hospitals to offer their services to those infected by Covid-19.

       "The number is still too small.

       "I would like to highlight a news report quoting the Health Minister as saying that a total of 112 (or 53.1%) of 211 private hospitals across the country agreed to offer treatment for Covid-19 as of July 1.

       "My question is, what happened to the rest, the 46.9% private hospitals that must sacrifice together with the government by giving their services to the people?" he said.

       Earlier in the day, groups of contract medical officers staged a walkout in support of the Hartal Doktor Kontrak movement nationwide.

       The Hartal protestors later returned to their duties after their demonstration.