All’s well at the hospitals

KUALA LUMPUR: It was business as usual at major hospitals nationwide, as the threats of a three-day strike by contract doctors failed to materialise.

Patients had no problems registering for treatment and seeing the doctors and many were actually unaware of the threatened strike.

Organisers Mogok Doktor Malaysia had warned that the healthcare system could be paralysed from April 3-5, with some 8,000 contract doctors absenting themselves from work by taking emergency or medical leave as a sign of protest.

However, The Star’s checks showed no hiccups in major hospitals in the Klang Valley such as Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL), Hospital Serdang, Hospital Cyberjaya and Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah.

The situation was also normal in Penang, Johor Baru, Ipoh, Seremban and Kota Kinabalu.

No significant absenteeism among doctors was reported, with sources saying that hospital directors had been collecting information through heads of department on those planning to go on strike.

At HKL, there was a small crowd outside the emergency departments.

Faizan, 39, who brought his mother for treatment, said everything was normal.

“The (registration) process was done quickly. There were some delays where my mother only got her blood test done about 90 minutes later.

“But that is normal at government healthcare facilities,” he said.

A woman known as Mita, who also brought her mother for treatment, said things were smooth sailing with the entire process lasting only about 30 minutes.

At about 10am, several medical staffers were seen bringing in extra benches to the waiting area at the hospital’s emergency department to accommodate the growing crowd.

The outpatient department, meanwhile, was almost deserted. Only a handful of people was there, with most leaving after just 45 minutes.

Some doctors were seen wearing black but it is unclear if this was in solidarity with the strike.

The Mogok Doktor Malaysia (Malaysian Doctors on Strike) movement had requested non-contract doctors to go to work wearing black.

They had also asked those supporting the nationwide “Black Monday” strike to change their social media profile pictures as a show of support to the movement – two years after a similar campaign by a different medical group.

Checks on the social media accounts of several contract doctors showed that they had not gone black.

In Penang, pensioner Aziz Amran, 61, said he went to the Kepala Batas health clinic for his usual medical check-up and it was just like any other day.

“The service was good,” he said.

At Hospital Penang on the island, a patient who wanted to be known as Liu said the doctors were professional and efficient in carrying out their duties.

In Johor, health and unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said all health facilities with contract doctors statewide were running as usual with no sign of a mass demonstration.

“There is always a solution for any problem and having a strike is not the best solution. I am thankful to all contract doctors for not taking part in the strike.”

He also expressed his hopes that the high-level committee set up to handle the contract doctor matters would find a solution to the problem as soon as possible.

In Ipoh, too, it was just another day at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) emergency department, with no long queues or people complaining.

However, two or three medical personnel were seen wearing black attire.

According to a source, there will be no walkouts at the hospital.

“The department seems to have the usual number of doctors working yesterday,” he said.

“We are also not aware that anyone has taken emergency or medical leave.”

In SEREMBAN, there were no disruptions reported.

State health committee chairman S. Veerapan said he had received a report from the state health director that everything was running as usual.

At Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar, the outpatient department was a hive of activity as those seeking treatment made their way to the clinics.

In KOTA KINABALU, there was no sign of the “Black Monday” strike at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, with services carrying on as usual.

It is also learnt that some hospitals had frozen leave and issued warnings against taking part in the strike.