Malaysia’s medical profession in need of healing

A RECENT survey has revealed that 70% of the Malaysian doctors who were polled have been victims of bullying while serving in the public sector, and – shockingly – 17% of them have contemplated suicide.

This is unacceptable because it shows how widespread the bullying culture is, and how severe. The statistics are worrying: about 75% of doctors responding to the Doc-tors Only Bulletin Board System (DOBBS) survey said that they are losing interest in their work, while 80% are worried.

The media has also reported on doctors confessing to being bullied with one doctor stating that colleagues have quit due to “exhaustion and mental trauma”, not because they lost their passion.

The Consumers Association of Penang urges the Health Ministry, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), the Malaysian Medical Council and other related bodies to address this problem that has been going on for decades.

We urge junior doctors to make use of the 24-hour Helpdoc helpline (03-4041 1140) to report harassment by their seniors. Former MMA president Dr Mohamed Namazie Ibra-him has reportedly said that the response to Helpdoc, which was established in 2017, has “not been great” although the DOBBS poll showed that nearly 80% of respondents had experienced bullying. The discrepancy between the DOBBS poll results and the “not so great” number of doctors calling Helpdoc is worrying. It shows that doctors who are bullied are reluctant to come forward to report their seniors.

Although Dr Mohamed Namazie has said that callers’ identities remain anonymous and that their grouses would be dealt with by representatives at all training hospitals in the country, the root cause of the reluctance to report harassment should be identified.

We urge the government to institute an investigation into the grievances of the medical profession covering everyone from doctors to nurses because there are claims that nurses have been harassed too. The problem is pervasive and serious, particularly in public hospitals.

MOHIDEEN ABDUL KADER

President, Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)

Note: Those in need of help can also contact the Befrienders at befrienders.org.my/centre-in-malaysia for phone numbers or email [e-mail].