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Faster promotions for doctors, dentists and pharmacists (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Tuesday announced a comprehensive career advancement plan for public doctors, dentists and pharmacists, which expedites their promotion to Grade 54 by between two and five years.

He said the initiative, which involved an additional annual expenditure of RM200mil, was aimed at improving career advancement by giving them the opportunity to move up to Grade 54 within a more reasonable time frame.

For example, a medical specialist can progress to Grade 54 in nine years compared with 11 years now, and a (clinical/ administrative) medical officer can move up in 12 years compared with 17 years now.

“Following this improvement in the career advancement plan, the Government hopes that doctors, dentists and pharmacists in the Health Ministry will continue to provide excellent service to the people,” he said in a statement.

Najib also said that the Public Service Department and the Health Ministry were working out the promotions of eligible Grade UD44 medical officers to Grade UD48, and the majority of them were expected to be enjoy the benefit before the end of this month.

Najib said the improvement was in recognition of the role and contribution of those providing healthcare to the people, and it was felt that this would enhance their commitment and determination to fulfill the desire to raise the level of service at government hospitals.

Elaborating, the prime minister said that on Dec 5, 2007, the Government agreed to promote directly to Grade UD44 all medical officers appointed from Jan 1, 2008 onwards, soon after completing their two-year housemanship and having registered with the Malaysian Medical Council.

To ensure that medical officers appointed prior to Jan 1, 2008 were unaffected by the decision, it was decided to promote these officers to Grade UD44, he said, adding that this involved promoting 9,871 medical officers in 2009.

The career advancement plan is as follows:

* Promotion to Grade 44 for dentists who have been on Grade 41 for two years, and for pharmacists after three years.

* Promotion to Grade 48 for doctors and dentists who have been on Grade 44 for three years or up to the date of gazetting as specialists, whichever is earlier; and for pharmacists who have been on Grade 44 for four years.

* Promotion to Grade 52 for (clinical/ administrative) doctors and dentists who have been on Grade 48 for four years or subject to availability of vacant positions, whichever is earlier; also for medical specialists and dental specialists who have been on Grade 48 for two years or subject to availability of vacant positions, whichever is earlier, and subject to recommendation of the Specialists Evaluation Panel of the Health Ministry, and pharmacists who have been on Grade 48 for four years or subject to availability of vacant positions, whichever is earlier.

* Promotion to Grade 54 for (clinical/ administrative) doctors and dentists who have been on Grade 52 for three years or subject to availability of vacant positions, whichever is earlier.

For medical specialists and dental specialists who have been on Grade 52 for two years or subject to availability of vacant positions, whichever is earlier, and subject to the recommendation of the Specialists Evaluation Panel.

For pharmacists who have been on Grade 52 for three years or subject to availability of vacant positions, whichever is earlier.

For medical specialists and dental specialists, the promotion from Grade 54 to Special Grade C and higher is subject to the recommendation of the ministry’s Specialists Evaluation Panel.

For medical officers (clinical/ administrative), dental officers (clinical/ administrative) and pharmacists, the promotion from Grade 54 to Special Grade C and higher is subjection to availability of vacant positions.

Najib said that based on the career advancement plan, the maximum period for doctors, dentists and pharmacists eligible to be promoted up to Grade 54 had been shortened.

The average period for promotion to Grade 54 is as follows:

* Medical officers (Specialist) -- nine years (now 11 years)

* Dental officers (Specialist) -- nine years (now 11 years)

* Medical officers (Clinical/Administrative) -- 12 years (now 17 years)

* Dental officers (Clinical/Administrative) -- 12 years (now 17 years)

* Pharmacists -- 14 years (now 17 years). -- Bernama