The Health Ministry must take strong steps to create a healthy working environment in public hospitals and clinics, the Malaysian Health Coalition (MHC) said today.

The MHC said in a statement there was a need for a positive work culture that not only encouraged quality, learning and growth, but also was anti-bullying and anti-discrimination.

“While we understand that junior health professionals must work longer-than-average hours to learn skills and competence, we urge a balance that protects their well-being and mental health,” it said in a statement.

The MHC said it welcomed the formation of a task force to investigate the death of a junior doctor in Penang recently.

The MHC, while expressing its condolences to the family of the junior doctor, said health professionals were experiencing tremendous stresses during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“These stresses are added to the existing stresses of an overloaded, under-staffed and under-funded public healthcare system, even before Covid-19.

“If these stresses are not managed well, the well-being and the work quality of healthcare staff will be affected. In turn, that will affect patient care,” it said.

MHC also reminded senior doctors that there were ways to teach, inspire and motivate juniors without being abusive.

It added that these seniors must take responsibility to build safe learning working spaces, and actively address toxic workplace behaviour.

“We urge immediate and strong steps towards a positive working culture in all healthcare institutions,” said MHC which consists of 27 organisations and eight individuals.

On Friday, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that the ministry would form an independent task force to investigate the case of a junior doctor who fell to his death.

He said the unit would probe into the alleged bullying among trainee doctors in government service.

Earlier, junior doctors who spoke to The Malaysian Insight said bullying was normal in government hospitals. – May 8, 2022.