PUTRAJAYA should act immediately on the grouses of the healthcare workers and hasten much-needed reforms to address the long-standing issues they are facing, the Malaysian Medical Association said today.

With a strike rumoured to be on the cards, MMA president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said the group does not support any form of a strike, but called on the government to address the plight of healthcare workers and issues they face.

“It does not come to us as a surprise to hear of a possible strike by public healthcare workers. The alarm bells on the healthcare system and its human resources being stretched to its limits have been sounded for years.

“MMA does not condone any strike but it is understandable that the frustration and burnout among our public healthcare workers have reached its limit and they now want their voices heard.

“The issues they are facing are not new, it has been around for years with little to no change.

“In the last four years, there were three changes in government. With every new cabinet line-up and administration there was renewed hope, but none were able to resolve their issues,” Dr Muruga Raj said in a statement today

Earlier, Ipoh Timor MP Howard Lee raised concerns over a potential unannounced strike by healthcare workers over the frustrations and pressure they face in the public healthcare sector.

Despite raising the concern of healthcare workers in public sectors being stretched to their limits, he said that to date, the matter has not been addressed and the struggle remains the same for the healthcare workers.

“There are still not enough permanent positions to give contract doctors secure employment.

“Our public healthcare facilities are still overcrowded, there are still shortages in manpower and most healthcare workers are overworked and underpaid.

“These issues have been brought up in a number of meetings with the Health Ministry and various press statements issued by the MMA over the years and even recently,” he said.

Dr Muruga Raj called on the Health Ministry, the Finance Ministry, and the Public Service Department to come up with solutions to long-standing issues.

“The issues in our healthcare system should not be viewed as a problem for the Health Ministry alone to address. Many of the issues, especially involving human resources, will require budgeting and planning by the Finance Ministry and the Public Service Department,” he said.

Dr Muruga Raj urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also finance minister, to step in if any roadblocks arise in implementing these reforms.

“(Present) issues in the healthcare system are a result of failed policies of the past. The prime minister now has the opportunity to right the wrongs of the past with reforms,” he said.

“We wish to remind the prime minister that Malaysians have not forgotten all the promises made (on improving healthcare) during the 15th general election campaigning period by his political coalition and MPs who are now in government.

“The tabling of Budget 2023 is just around the corner and the entire healthcare fraternity as well as all Malaysians will be hoping for good news on a budget that truly reflects the government’s commitment to healthcare reforms,” he said. – February 14, 2023.