Latest news with #MyHELP
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Transparency, action keys to building trust in tackling workplace bullying in public healthcare sector '
KUALA LUMPUR: Confidential complaint channels and support systems for victims are crucial in addressing workplace bullying in the public healthcare sector, says Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy. Its chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib said these mechanisms must be supported with regular reporting of incidents, actions taken and remedial measures — potentially through online dashboards — to ensure transparency and accountability. "It sends a right and positive signal that allegations of workplace bullying and related issues will be taken seriously. "This move provides a framework for such complaints to be properly handled and places accountability on supervisors and the Health Ministry's leadership," he told the New Straits Times. Azrul was commenting on Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad's statement that a secure complaint channel and psychosocial support are among the key features of the ministry's upcoming workplace bullying guidelines, scheduled for launch this October. The guidelines, which will apply to all Health Ministry personnel, outline structured measures to prevent, report, and manage bullying incidents across the ministry. He said the guidelines will include designated reporting channels that ensure confidentiality and protection for complainants. Currently, bullying cases can be reported through the MyHELP portal, which was launched on Oct 1, 2022. Reports submitted online must be investigated within 15 working days, depending on whether the case is classified as standard or complex. Azrul said that while the proposed confidential complaint channels and psychosocial support mechanisms were a step in the right direction, their success would depend on implementation and trust in the system. "The key factor is to ensure confidentiality is protected and that these mechanisms function effectively. It must work through decades of institutional inertia and distrust of bureaucracy," he said. To ensure the guidelines are enforced effectively nationwide, he said leadership must set the tone — from the minister down to heads of divisions, state health directors and frontliners at hospitals and clinics. "There must be training and briefings to show that these guidelines are being taken seriously. Leaders must lead by example to build trust in the system," he said.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Health Ministry to launch anti-bullying guidelines with psychosocial support in October
KUALA LUMPUR: A safe complaint channel and psychosocial support are among the key features of the Health Ministry's upcoming workplace bullying guidelines, scheduled for launch this October. The guidelines, which apply to all Health Ministry personnel, outline structured measures to prevent, report, and manage bullying incidents across the ministry. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the guidelines will provide designated reporting channels that ensure confidentiality and protection for 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 mechanisms to ensure compliance, Dzulkefly said heads of departments and management teams would be responsible for cultivating a conducive work environment. This, he said, includes implementing preventive measures such as awareness campaigns and training sessions to address bullying. Dzulkefly said monitoring and evaluation would focus on achieving the guidelines' objectives — 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 analysis, as well as assessment of the guidelines' implementation and compliance at Health Ministry facilities," he said. On July 12, Dzulkefly had said the guideline is a part of broader efforts to strengthen the ministry's support systems, including the "MyHelp KKM" platform. Currently, bullying cases can be reported through the MyHELP portal, which was launched on Oct 1, 2022. Reports submitted online must be investigated within 15 working days, depending on whether the case is classified as standard or complex. Last year, Dzulkefly had also said that the formation of a special task force to look into bullying cases in hospitals. He had said the task force would investigate bullying cases in general, including those occurring at other healthcare facilities.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Workplace bullying: Health Ministry to curb verbal abuse with new guidelines in October
KUALA LUMPUR: The use of hurtful or offensive language has been listed as a form of workplace bullying in new Health Ministry guidelines, set to be launched this October, aimed at curbing abuse in government hospitals and clinics. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said elements of verbal bullying in the workplace include insulting, threatening, mocking, and humiliating others. "In the guidelines, it is stated that the use of language or words that are hurtful, insulting, threatening, mocking, or humiliating individuals is part of verbal bullying in the workplace," he said to Berita Harian. "Although the guidelines do not specify individual words, any use of offensive language — particularly if it happens repeatedly — can be considered bullying, subject to investigation and the context of the incident," he added. On July 12, Dzulkefly had announced that the guidelines were fully completed and would be officially launched during World Mental Health Month in October before being distributed to all Health Ministry facilities. The move is aimed at creating a safer, more harmonious work environment—free from the negative effects of bullying—while strengthening existing support systems such as MyHELP. It also reflects the ministry's ongoing commitment to safeguarding the psychosocial wellbeing of its healthcare workforce. The guidelines are intended to provide clear direction to Health Ministry staff on how to identify, prevent, and address bullying in the workplace. This includes explaining reporting procedures, as well as outlining preventive and intervention measures for both individuals and organisations. Currently, bullying cases can be reported through the MyHELP portal, which was launched on Oct 1, 2022. Reports submitted online must be investigated within 15 working days, depending on whether the case is classified as standard or complex. Previously, the group Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) had called for the inclusion of additional measures in the new guidelines, such as an independent committee with full authority to investigate bullying cases and impose appropriate penalties. They also recommended an anonymous reporting channel, unlike the current Public Complaints Management System (SISPA), which requires complainants to report directly to department heads —potentially exposing their identity. Earlier this year, HDK spokesperson Dr Muhammad Yassin urged the ministry to expedite the release of the anti-bullying guidelines as a complement to existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) in public healthcare. The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) also called on the ministry to share the guidelines before they are finalised, saying it was important for stakeholders to provide input based on their long-standing experience handling bullying cases among healthcare workers. In Parliament earlier this year, Dzulkefly acknowledged that house officers were often the primary targets of bullying and stressed the need to build a healthier working environment in health facilities.
