The 60-day maternity leave of the Hulu Langat medical officer was approved by the head of the clinic – JKNS
SHAH ALAM: The decision to approve the setting of maternity leave for only 60 days due to the lack of medical officers at the Hulu Langat District Health Office (PKD), Selangor, has been agreed upon by all clinic heads in the district.
The director of the Selangor State Health Department (JKNS), Dr. Ummi Kalthom Shamsudin, said the decision was reached taking into account that there were seven medical officers on maternity leave at the same time in several health clinics throughout June and July.
She said it was also because some medical officers who were instructed to report to PKD Hulu Langat had refused the placement given.
“If the measure to limit the period of maternity leave as reported is not taken, it will add additional workload and pressure to the health workers who serve to meet the health needs of the public.
“In principle, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will ensure that the continuity of services to the public is not affected. This should be implemented without affecting the quality of services, patient safety, or the welfare of health workers in general,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
She said that the Hulu Langat PKD had also previously obtained views on the reduction of maternity leave from the Remuneration Scheme and Employee Relations Unit of the Ministry of Health’s Resource Division in 2023.
Dr. Ummi Kalthom said, based on the Human Resources Service Circular (Leave Facilities) Version 1.0 (2022): Divorce SR.5.4.1, maternity leave eligibility is between 60 and 90 days for each birth, and there is flexibility to determine the period.
“Taking all this into account, PKD Hulu Langat has taken a temporary step to set the maternity leave period to 60 days for each birth, which is the minimum mandatory leave.
“Nevertheless, PKD Hulu Langat will still consider any application for additional maternity leave on its own, and each approval is subject to the interests of the service,” she said.
She said that PKD Hulu Langat also held a dialogue session between the district health officer and the medical officer yesterday to provide information on the current situation and the improvement measures that have been carried out in the district.
JKNS is also, he said, filling as soon as possible the vacant position of medical officer at the PKD Hulu Langat level, thus expressing commitment to finding the best solution for the continuity of health services at the state level.
Previously, a local news portal reported that PKD Hulu Langat had set a 60-day maternity leave for medical officers on duty at the district’s Health Clinic since June 27.
