Letter to editor
THE Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) views seriously allegations of housemen being bullied by their senior colleagues at the Sungai Buloh Hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) department as reported by news portal CodeBlue.
We applaud the Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa’s swift action in taking immediate steps to address the matter and we hope a thorough investigation will be carried out.
We also urge all healthcare workers who feel they are being bullied – whether junior or senior in rank – to make a report to MMA’s HelpDoc or the Health Ministry (MOH) via MyHelp so that action can be taken.
Bullying has no place in healthcare and it should not be tolerated. Do not fear senior colleagues or the hospital’s management, make a report and if there is sexual harassment, report it to the police. You do not have to suffer in silence. The situation can only improve when you take action and make a report.
At the recently held townhall session with the MOH in Putrajaya, the MMA had proposed that all heads of departments (HODs) in public healthcare facilities be made fully accountable for any bullying that takes place in their department.
We had also proposed that housemen do not work beyond their working hours to prevent being overworked. These were among measures proposed to stop bullying in public healthcare facilities.
We hope the Health Minister will take up these suggestions and implement them as immediate steps to address the issue of bullying now that another case has been brought to her ministry’s attention. – March 21, 2023
Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai is president of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
