THE Health Ministry should set up a counselling and therapy unit for medical officers, including junior doctors, to help them cope with emotional pressures of the job, said Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.

She lauded the ministry’s move to form an independent task force to look into allegations of bullying in hospitals.

However, she added, what is more important is that the ministry takes medical officers’ mental well-being seriously.

She said setting up a counselling unit is also in line with the ministry’s National Strategic Plan for Mental Health 2020-2025.

“Recent revelations about the workload faced by junior doctors as housemen show that quite a few of them suffer from depression and stress.

“The aggressive behaviour or bullying culture of senior medical officers in hospitals also indicates that the seniors have attitude problems and need psychological help.”

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin yesterday said his ministry will form a task force to investigate the case of a junior doctor who fell to his death.

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

“The ministry will form an independent task force to investigate this case and the alleged bullying culture.”

A 25-year-old houseman died after falling from an office building in Jalan Datuk Keramat in George Town, Penang, on April 17.

The deceased was stationed at Penang Hospital on April 4.

Khairy said he has received the initial death report from the head of the Penang Health Department.

Police are also completing their investigation into the case, he added.

The Penang Health Department on Wednesday said the death of the junior doctor is under police probe.

State health director Dr Ma’arof Sudin said police have ordered a post-mortem, which will be performed at Penang Hospital.

Penang Health Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin had said the committee will convene a state-level meeting to investigate issues faced by junior doctors.

It also wants to find an amicable solution to the issues, she added.

The Malaysian Medical Association has urged healthcare professionals facing personal issues to seek help and not make extreme decisions. – May 7, 2022.