SEREMBAN: The plight of contract doctors in government service who are demanding to be made permanent will be raised in Cabinet within a fortnight, says Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

       He said a solution to this was needed to prevent the issue from persisting.

       "I will present a memorandum on the short- and long-term solutions to the Cabinet within a week or two.

       "We need to look at this or else the issue will crop up again and again," he told reporters when met after the state-level national Youth Consultative Council meeting here on Thursday (Nov 25).

       Khairy expressed hope that the doctors will defer plans to hold a protest until the Cabinet decides on the matter.

       On Nov 16, the Hartal Doktor Kontrak movement said it would stage a "symbolic mass resignation" next month if the government does not hire 22,288 contract doctors on a permanent basis.

       The movement's spokesman, Dr Muhammad Yassin, said contract doctors are planning to stage a protest march.

       The movement is organising a second protest as it felt that the government did not address the contract doctor issue in Budget 2022.

       He said the protest would last about 30 minutes to an hour. This would be followed by a mass resignation in the same month.

       Khairy expressed hope the Cabinet would agree to hire some contract doctors.

       "Once we get the green light from the Cabinet, I will announce the numbers we can take.

       "I hope those planning the protest will wait until the paper is taken to the Cabinet and not disrupt medical services being provided," he said.

       Khairy said the government was in no position to hire all contract doctors on a permanent basis at one go.

       "We can probably absorb those who have finished their housemanship, compulsory service or those in the first few cohorts.

       "The rest will depend on the longer-term solution," he said.