PETALING JAYA: Despite business going on as usual at most hospitals on Monday (April 3), the organiser of the Mogok Doktor Malaysia strike has claimed that it has successfully achieved its aim.
When pressed for the number of participants, the group’s spokesman, who only wanted to be known as Dr Jamal, claimed that some 3,000 doctors had participated in the strike.
He said it only appeared as if the strike had no impact on the healthcare sector because there were fewer people waiting at hospitals on Monday, hence there was enough manpower to manage.
“The patient rate was reduced by 30% overall, but at the same time there are contract doctors who took MC and EL for the strike; some medical officers had to carry out jobs that are supposed to be done by house officers,” he said when contacted.
It seems like nothing (had) happened because the crowd was reduced and thus the workforce was adequate to manage the situation.”
"Even though we might not get most contract doctors involved in it, we have brought the issues of contract doctors to the eyes of the public and brought it to the attention of politicians in power," said Dr Jamal.
"This is just an early warning. If they don't treat contract doctors properly then the next strike will be more devastating compared to this,” he added.
Asked whether the group’s initial target of 8,000 was too lofty an aim as it failed to hit the target, Dr Jamal said the figure was derived from the respondents of a survey conducted in February.
When asked why the group had decided to strike when the government was engaging with medical groups to resolve the problem, he said the engagements had not been fruitful.
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.
Its social media campaign had also yet to gain traction.
The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) also said based on checks at public healthcare facilities no contract doctors strikes have been reported at public healthcare facilities.
“So far, checks made by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) today revealed that there is no strike taking place at any of the public healthcare facilities throughout the country. However, the issue of public fear needs to be addressed,” said the association’s President Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai in a statement on Monday (April 3).
Mogok Doktor Kontrak had previously warned that the healthcare system may be paralysed from April 3 to April 5, as some 8,000 contract doctors will be absent from work by taking Emergency or Medical Leave as a sign of protest.
