Latest news with #MalaysianMedicalAssociation
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Guidelines alone won't stop bullying, healthcare groups warn
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.
New Straits Times
16-07-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Rakan KKM will not burden healthcare workers, says Dzulkefly
KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has assured that the newly announced Rakan KKM initiative will not impose additional burdens on medical officers, specialists or nurses. "This matter has actually already been addressed," he said, adding that prior to the launch, the ministry conducted several engagement sessions, including town halls and staff surveys. Dzulkefly was speaking to the press during the Precision Public Health Asia 2025 Conference in Petaling Jaya today. "It was clear that they do have time to do locum work in private hospitals," he said. Dzulkefly clarified that participation is entirely voluntary and that those without time are not part of the target group. He added that Rakan KKM is aimed at critical healthcare specialists who the ministry is seeking to retain through extra remuneration and other incentives. The minister also urged the media to refrain from speculating about the programme's operational details, adding that a briefing on the matter will be held in the near future. Yesterday, Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira urged the Health Ministry to clarify the structure and operations of the newly announced Rakan KKM initiative. Kalwinder said key questions remained over its governance, scope, financing model and staffing. The programme is set to offer 'premium economy' services at selected public hospitals for elective outpatient, day care and inpatient services, including personalised care, specialist choice and enhanced privacy.
New Straits Times
16-07-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
'How can we cope?': Doctors and nurses speak out on system at breaking point
KUALA LUMPUR: Severe staff shortage caused by the migration of healthcare workers and burnout among existing staff have pushed nurses to the brink of despair and helplessness, said medical frontliners. A staff nurse who only wanted to be known as Nini, 42, said she started her nursing career at a hospital in Johor in 2005 and was transferred to Kuala Lumpur in 2010. She said the work culture in Kuala Lumpur was different and she hardly had any time for breaks. She is now a senior and is on duty at wards where she has to take care of eight to 12 patients at a time. "Although the World Health Organisation recommends one nurse for every four patients in a general ward, we are doing double the amount and more sometimes when a nurse calls in sick." She said staffing levels had dropped steadily in her ward over the past five years. "This is not new. But these past years, the situation has worsened as more colleagues leave for greener pastures in." Nini now manages her shift with fewer nurses, saying it has caused burnout among her colleagues, especially if there are demanding superiors. "An ex-colleague joined a hospital in Dubai, where she works eight-hour shifts, earns RM12,000 monthly and gets free housing. Two more moved to Singapore and another is in Perth now. They were senior staff. Losing them is a big blow. We're trying to hold the fort, but we are not sure how long we can do it. Patients sometimes blame us when they do not get the care they deserve, but that is not because we don't care. It's because we just physically cannot keep up." In a hospital in Kota Kinabalu, an emergency medical officer who only wanted to be known as Dr Mohamad, 42, said the emergency department was running at almost 200 per cent capacity on some days with fewer than 10 doctors on duty. "We should have at least five medical officers per shift. Some nights, we're down to just three. Imagine one stroke victim, one asthma patient and one road traffic victim. How can we manage? You can't be everywhere. We used to spend 10 to 15 minutes with each patient. Now, it's sometimes three minutes, just enough time to prescribe and move on. We're not proud of it, but this is the reality. I've had three of my closest colleagues leave in the last 12 months. Two to Australia and one to a telehealth firm in the United Kingdom that pays more than double of what he used to earn here. They left because their applications to be relocated to the peninsula were rejected several times." He said doctors wanted to remain in Malaysia, but the Health Ministry must improve the perks, salary and incentives. According to statistics from the Malaysian Medical Association, more than 4,000 healthcare workers, including more than 1,500 nurses and 900 doctors, migrated or entered private practice between 2021 and 2024. The Health Ministry has acknowledged a nationwide shortage of 20,000 nurses and 8,000 doctors, including specialists. And this gap is expected to widen as more resign or retire. A specialist from Klang, Dr Menon, 48, said her unit delivered up to 20 babies a day with increasingly junior and overstretched staff on some days. "We need at least six medical officers per 24-hour cycle to handle these cases safely. Some days, we barely have three medical officers. I'm in the operating theatre for hours, then straight to clinic or ward rounds with no break. One of my best registrars left for Dubai. She told me, 'In one shift, I deliver five babies and get to eat lunch. Here, I would have to deliver 10 babies before I could even go to the toilet'." Dr Menon said one of her most dependable nurses resigned after a decade of service recently. "She went to Singapore. She sent me a voice note last month and said, 'Cikgu, I finally feel like a normal human again'. It broke my heart." She said the workload was not only overwhelming, it was affecting quality of care for patients as well as staff morale. "The system is bleeding and we're using our hands to plug the holes." Asked why she chose to stay despite getting offers abroad, she said her elderly parents and in-laws kept her here. "I'm more concerned about the new generation as it is getting harder to convince the younger ones to stay. They don't see a future here. And without a strong pipeline, we're heading towards collapse." Dr Menon believed that better pay, structured career paths and more specialist training slots could slow down the collapse.
Borneo Post
12-07-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Doctors shortage in East M'sia to worsen without pay reform, says Dr Sim
Dr Sim says many doctors are burdened by rising living costs despite the stronger ringgit. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (July 12): Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian has reiterated calls for improved remuneration for Malaysian doctors, warning that continued brain drain – especially from Sabah and Sarawak – could place greater strain on the national healthcare system. 'We cannot continue with the notion that 'we are cheap and good'. In 2025, we are good, but we need to be paid better,' he said in a Facebook post. Dr Sim was responding to Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president and fellow Sarawakian, Dato Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira, who recently urged the federal government to speed up reforms in the national health service. Dr Khaira warned that failure to act could intensify the outflow of Malaysian doctors to neighbouring countries, which offer far more attractive recruitment packages. Highlighting the long training path for doctors – six years of university and at least seven more to specialise – Dr Sim said many are burdened by rising living costs despite the stronger ringgit. 'Medicine may be a noble calling, but we must be realistic. Doctors have families to support, children to educate, and loans to repay, despite the strengthening ringgit,' he stressed. He pointed to Sarawak's rapidly aging population and declining birth rate, noting that the state is expected to become Malaysia's first aging society by 2028, making access to healthcare professionals more critical than ever. Based on Malaysian standards, Sarawak should have around 6,000 doctors by 2025. However, Dr Sim revealed the state currently only has 4,000, and relies heavily on 2,000 doctors from Peninsular Malaysia. Even with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) producing 150 medical graduates a year, he estimated it would take over a decade for Sarawak to meet the national doctor-to-population ratio. 'Given the financial opportunities, the training opportunities, the job satisfaction opportunities (offered in other countries), the brain drain to other countries will get worse and worse especially from Sabah and Sarawak unless we act now and pay better,' he cautioned. Dr Sim also noted that the Sarawak government, under Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, recognises the need for better civil service pay. This is reflected in the two-month year-end bonus for 2024 and the continued monthly allowances for Sarawak civil servants in 2025. As State Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Dr Sim pledged to continue advocating for solutions, including working closely with the federal Ministry of Health on advancing Sarawak's health autonomy under Article 95(C) of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). The legal provision was amended in 2021 to allow greater devolution of powers to Sarawak. He said the impact of these efforts would only become visible within the next five to ten years. brain drain doctors shortage Dr Sim Kui Hian east malaysia lead pay reform
The Star
12-07-2025
- Health
- The Star
Rise in vaping among youth an alarming trend, says Health Ministry
KULAI: While Malaysia has made progress in reducing adult smoking rates, the rise in vaping is an alarming trend, says Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni. He cited findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) showing that the adult smoking rate dropped from 22.4% in 2019 to 19.8% in 2023. 'However, vape use increased from 4.9% to 5.1% over the same period. Even more concerning is the growing number of children, or underage persons, taking up electronic smoking products. 'This is not just a health issue but a social one,' he said in his speech during the state-level World No Tobacco Day and World Tuberculosis Day held on Saturday (July 12). Lukanisman urged parents to take a more active role in monitoring their children, warning that early exposure to nicotine could lead to long-term organ damage and other behavioural problems. He added the ministry has taken a firm stance by implementing comprehensive interventions, including youth education and enforcement measures, to curb smoking and vaping habits. Lukanisman said one initiative is the Walkabout Premis Bersih, Bebas Asap (BeBAs) programme, which encourages food premises to maintain cleanliness and enforce smoke-free zones, especially in restaurants and hawker areas. 'BeBAs is a multi-agency effort involving government bodies, NGOs, professional organisations, and corporate partners. It aims to drive public understanding and compliance with smoke-free regulations. 'The ministry has also partnered with the Education Ministry to launch the Kotak (Oral Health Without Smoking) programme in schools, working alongside groups like the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM), and Malaysian Anti-Drug Association (Pemadam),' he added. Lukanisman also said to further bolster enforcement, the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) officially came into force on 1 October last year. 'This law gives us broader authority to regulate not only tobacco but also vaping products. 'Through Ops Cakna under this Act, we are sending a clear message that the government is serious about protecting public health, especially school children, from the harmful effects of smoking and vaping,' he added.
