Safe complaint channel planned
The guidelines, which apply to Health Ministry personnel, outline measures to prevent, report and manage bullying incidents in the ministry.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the guidelines would offer reporting channels that ensured confidentiality and protect complainants.
"As part of the psychosocial support component, victims will be given access to counselling services, referrals to professionals and also group support," he told the New Straits Times.
He added that confirmed perpetrators would face disciplinary action and undergo counselling interventions.
On compliance mechanisms, Dzulkefly said department heads and management teams would be responsible for fostering a healthy work environment.
These responsibilities include preventive measures, such as awareness campaigns and training sessions to address bullying.
He said monitoring and evaluation would focus on achieving the guidelines' goals of increasing awareness and reporting, and improving workplace culture and staff well-being.
"It will be carried out through a systematic monitoring mechanism that includes data collection and analyses, as well as assessment of the guidelines' implementation and compliance at ministry facilities."
On July 12, he said the guidelines were part of broader efforts to strengthen the ministry's support systems, including the MyHelp KKM platform.
Bullying cases can now be reported through the MyHelp portal, which was launched in 2022.
Reports submitted online must be investigated within 15 working days, depending on whether the case is classified as standard or complex.
Last year, he announced the formation of a task force to investigate bullying cases in hospitals as well as at other healthcare facilities.
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