Guidelines alone won't stop bullying, healthcare groups warn

New Straits Times

5 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Healthcare groups, in welcoming the Health Ministry's anti-bullying guidelines, stress the need for greater transparency, trust and leadership to drive systemic change.
The guidelines, to be launched in October, will include secure and confidential complaint channels and psychosocial support for victims.
They also outline clear protocols to prevent, report and manage workplace bullying involving ministry personnel.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said the association had long raised concerns over bullying in the sector. He views the ministry's efforts as a step in the right direction.
However, he called for broader engagement and public disclosure of the draft guidelines before they were finalised.
"MMA's experience in handling bullying complaints can help ensure the measures are effective and practical."
He added that MMA maintained a zero-tolerance stance on bullying and that a safe, respectful environment for healthcare workers was essential to ensure high standards of patient care.
The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy said the guidelines' success would depend on the system's credibility and public confidence in how complaints were handled.
Its chief executive, Azrul Mohd Khalib, said regular reporting of bullying cases, including outcomes and remedial actions, should be made available — potentially through an online dashboard — to promote accountability and transparency.
"This move signals that bullying allegations will be taken seriously and places responsibility on supervisors and Ministry leadership to act."
He added that while the provision of confidential channels and psychosocial support was a positive step, the long-term effectiveness of the initiative would depend on how well it is implemented, particularly in overcoming bureaucratic inertia and institutional mistrust.
"There must be leadership from the top — from the minister down to state directors and hospital administrators. Training and briefings are key to building confidence in the system. Leaders must lead by example."
Hartal Doktor Kontrak lauded the initiative as timely but added that guidelines alone were not enough. Its spokesman, Dr Muhammad Yassin, said enforcement would be the real test.
He said that the complaint system's success would depend on its ability to maintain confidentiality.
To ensure consistent enforcement in all facilities, Yassin proposed a national-level audit by an independent body to track bullying cases and responses. "Any delays or lack of investigation must be examined to avoid abuse of power," he added.
Currently, healthcare workers can report bullying cases through the MyHelp portal, launched in October 2022. Reports must be investigated within 15 working days, depending on whether they are classified as standard or complex.