PETALING JAYA: Health Ministry staff, especially nurses, affected by the proposed 45-hour work schedule should be patient while the issue is being fine-tuned, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister said discussions with stakeholders, including the nursing section and nurses' associations, will be carried out as planned.
"It is fair to the Health Ministry staff if all final decisions are done in a comprehensive and realistic manner based on data and information, including the acute shortages," said Dzulkefly on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Tuesday (Nov 26).
"I would like to reiterate that Health Ministry services on the whole are based on kindness and empathy and these values must be prioritised in the daily working life from the beginning up to the end.
"I welcome the statement by the five nurses' associations on the issue. They want to look into the finer details during the discussion," he said.
Dzulkefly said he will look into their suggestions and give due consideration to it.
Nurses will be facing a 45-hour work week starting Dec 1.
The move had received much backlash from the medical fraternity who claim nurses were already being overworked under the present scheme and the extra hours would be detrimental to their health and wellbeing.
Salam MADANI Semua Saya mengikuti dengan penuh sedar, segala input yang diberikan oleh pelbagai pihak berkenaan waktu bekerja jururawat di bawah sistem baharu SSPA. Jutaan Terima Kasih Saya juga menerima baik kenyataan daripada 5 persatuan jururawat berkenaan hal ini,... pic.twitter.com/NlE4GPZLMx — Dzulkefly Ahmad (@DrDzul) November 26, 2024
