PUTRAJAYA: More details on the possible nationwide enlistment of private healthcare workers to support government facilities will be announced in the coming weeks, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister said these were among the “noble ideas” to be shared soon.
“It’s all up our sleeves now but we need to really plan it well.
“Our ministry secretary-general is working hard on this,” he told The Star on the sidelines of an event yesterday.
Earlier, Dzulkefly witnessed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) exchange between the Health Ministry and Sarawak Energy Berhad for the construction of the Bakun-Murum Health Clinic at the ministry’s headquarters.
Meanwhile, Health Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad said such mechanisms were already present through locum or sessional arrangements.
However, he said the take-up ratio is relatively low.
“In fact, there will be a discussion on this particular issue next week,” he said.
Among other ideas floated were the enlistment of retired nurses who were willing to return to work.
Dzulkefly and Hasnol were responding to questions on whether the ministry plans to implement a nationwide rollout to enlist private sector healthcare workers on a sessional, honorarium or pro bono basis.
This approach has been adopted by the Selangor Health Department.
On another matter, Dzulkefly said the manpower reshuffling carried out at several government hospitals was only a “temporary measure”.
“It may have different terms such as manpower redistribution or recalibration but the priority is to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services,” he said.
He said restructuring is just one of the ministry’s measures under the cluster crisis management system.
“Our focus is also towards ensuring the strain on the healthcare workforce is kept at the minimum, be it doctors or nurses,” he said.
Recently, it was reported that manpower shortages occurred in several government hospitals namely Segamat, Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Ipoh and Pekan, resulting in these hospitals having to restructure their services.
