THE shocking revelation that a large number of “floating contract medical officers” are in limbo between being housemen and medical officers is not surprising, “No placements for housemen” (The Star, April 23). In fact, it seems like this issue is part of the symptoms of a larger disease plaguing the Health Ministry.

The ministry bought itself time back in 2016 with the implementation of the shift system. The hope then was to find an amicable solution to this issue before these contract house officers make the step up to the position of medical officers.