KUALA LUMPUR: Put off plans to implement a 45-hour work week for Health Ministry shift workers, says the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on Health.
In joining the chorus of various medical groups in opposing this, PSSC chairman Suhaizan Kaiat said an increase in working hours may lead to more medical professionals moving to the private sector or abroad instead.
“We should focus on increasing the number of medical staff firstly, to reduce the burden on current personnel and improve the quality of medical services provided to the Rakyat,” he told a press conference at the Parliament media centre here on Monday (Feb 24).
He said the situation may also see lesser interest among students to venture into the medical field, possibly contributing to a further shortage of medical professionals.
According to Suhaizan, countries like the United Kingdom and Japan set working hours for medical staff at 40 hours per week while Australia set it at 38 hours weekly.
“As Malaysia still faces a shortage in medical staff, it is not practical to increase the working hours,” he said.
He also referenced the Delegation of Nurses findings where 95.5% of 28,373 respondents disagreed with the proposal to increase working hours from 42-hours to 45-hours.
“Health Ministry staff work in a three-shift system and face unique challenges which include getting only one off-day per week.
“The additional three working hours can potentially increase work stress, physical and mental fatigue, alongside posing risks of affecting their duties,” he said.
“Increasing the work hours can also affect their work-life balance,” he added.
He also said they had voiced these concerns to Health Ministry officials over this previously.
“We hope that change will come through these various engagements,” he said
Earlier this month, the Health Ministry said they are holding nationwide engagement sessions before making a final decision on implementing a 45-hour work week for shift-based staff, including nurses, assistant medical officers, and ambulance drivers.
This comes after concerns were raised over a new directive under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) that would increase the weekly working hours for shift-based nurses from 42 to 45 hours.
