PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry says the average total working hours for housemen are limited to 60 to 62 hours per week.
In a circular dated Friday (May 8) sighted by The Star, Health director-general Datuk Dr Mahathar Abd Wahab reminded hospital directors to continuously monitor the implementation of the flexible working hours system for housemen in their respective facilities to ensure compliance with general principles.
Hospitals were also reminded to ensure that working hours in all departments for graduate trainees are standardised into three main flexible shifts: morning, afternoon and night.
Dr Mahathar said reducing the shifts to two flexible shifts or implementing an on-call system are not permitted.
"Housemen are appointed as public officers to undergo graduate training in order to achieve the prescribed level of competency and to obtain comprehensive clinical experience.
"Accordingly, their working hours are subject to the prevailing Public Service Regulations and House Officer Programme Guidelines.
"However, this office has received feedback regarding confusion among relevant parties over the interpretation of the general principles guidelines on the Standardisation of the Flexible Working Hours System issued on Jan 30, 2019, particularly in relation to leave entitlements for housemen," he said, adding that the circular was issued to clarify the matter.
He said hospitals must ensure the flexible working hours are implemented regardless of the number of housemen posted to a department at any given time.
"In situations where there is a shortage, for example where only one houseman is on duty in a department and has completed the morning flexi shift, clinical services for the afternoon and night flexi shifts must be fully continued by medical officers and specialists in the relevant department.
"This requirement is intended to ensure continuity of patient care while safeguarding the welfare and rest periods of housemen in line with the principles of the flexible working hours system," he added.
Duty rosters must be carefully arranged so that housemen are allocated more working hours during office hours to maximise learning opportunities and clinical exposure throughout the training period, he said.
He also said hospital managements must ensure that housemen get an annual leave entitlement of 25 days a year, as well as other eligible leave such as sick leave, maternity leave, and others in accordance with existing regulations applicable to public officers.
"In this regard, it is emphasised that the practice of deducting or replacing HOs’ annual leave with sick leave is incorrect and strictly prohibited.
"Each type of leave has different legal provisions and entitlements, and therefore its implementation must comply with existing service regulations," he said.
The circular came on the heels of the Malaysian Medics International’s (MMI) findings that housemen and medical officers worked an average of 65 to 85 hours a week, despite the ministry’s flexi-system limiting their working hours to between 65 and 75 hours weekly.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said on Thursday (May 7) that a new circular on working hours for junior doctors was being drafted to address concerns over excessive workloads among house officers.
