PETALING JAYA: Housemen (HO) or junior doctors cannot be made to work more than 60 to 62 hours per week, the Health Ministry says.
Hospital directors have been told to continuously monitor the implementation of the flexible working hours system for HOs in their respective hospitals to ensure compliance with the stipulated general principles.
The reminder comes after recent reports suggested that junior doctors were working an average of up to 85 hours per week.
In a circular dated May 8 sighted by The Star, Health director-general Datuk Dr Mahathar Abd Wahab reminded hospitals to ensure working hours in all departments for graduate trainees are standardised into three main flexible shifts – namely the morning flexi shift, after- noon flexi shift, and night flexi shift.
Dr Mahathar said reducing the shifts to two flexible shifts or implementing on-call system are not permitted.
The circular comes 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.
“HOs 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, the working hours of HOs are subject to the prevailing Public Service Regulations and House Officer Programme Guidelines,” said Dr Mahathar.
“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 HOs,” he said.
He said hospitals must ensure the flexible working hours are implemented regardless of the number of HOs posted to a department.
If there is a shortage of HOs, for example, where only one HO is on duty in a department and has completed the morning flexi shift, clinical services for the afternoon and night flexi shifts must be continued by Medical Officers and specialists, he said.
HOs are allocated more work during office hours in order to maximise learning opportunities and clinical exposure throughout the training period.
Dr Mahathar said hospital management must also ensure that HOs are granted annual leave of 25 days per year as well as other eligible leave such as sick leave, maternity leave and others in accordance with existing regulations.
“The practice of deducting leave or replacing HOs’ sick leave with annual leave is incorrect and strictly prohibited. Each type of leave has different legal provisions and entitlements, and therefore its implementation must comply with service regulations,” he said.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said on Thursday that a new circular would be issued on working hours for junior doctors to address concerns over excessive workloads among HOs.
