The plan was made following the surplus of medical graduates in Malaysia due to the excessive opening of institutions of higher learning, especially those of private.

[4] Apart from that, several other issues were also raised including lower salaries, problems with employee leave and opportunities to further their studies to become specialised medical specialists.

[10][11] Within days before the strike, contract medical officers began resigning out of frustration and anger with their uncertain post-contract future.

[13] Throughout July 2021, activism were conducted online in an effort to spread awareness to the public on the issue of contract doctors.

[22] On the day of the strike, the police began investigating the organisers in the context of violating the rules in the country's Movement control order which banned any assembly event.

[23] Through the Special Meeting of the Fourteenth Term Parliament on 27 July 2021, the Minister of Health, Dr Adham Baba assured that no action would be taken against the contract doctor who joined the hartal the day before.