MOH to issue new flexible working guidelines amid outcry over exhausting hours

THE Ministry of Health (MOH) is preparing to introduce revised guidelines governing flexible working hours for house officers following growing concern over excessive workloads faced by junior doctors, some of whom reportedly work between 65 and 85 hours a week.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the new directive would be issued within the next few days as an immediate measure to address complaints surrounding exhausting schedules imposed on medical trainees in public hospitals.

He stressed that junior doctors, formally known as graduate medical officers or house officers, should not be treated merely as supplementary manpower within the healthcare system.

“I take note of the issues raised. It goes back to the statement previously issued by the Health Ministry that graduate medical officers are not ‘extra pairs of hands’,” he said.

“Regarding their working hours, they are subject to the Flexible Working Hours policy already issued. Within the next day or two, there will be a new guideline to reinforce compliance in line with what has already been stipulated.”

Dzulkefly was speaking to reporters after officiating the Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM) Trial Connect Conference 2026 at Nexus today.

His remarks came in response to concerns raised by Malaysian Medics International (MMI), which highlighted the demanding schedules endured by junior doctors in Malaysia compared with counterparts in countries such as the United Kingdom and Ireland.

According to MMI, junior doctors in the United Kingdom typically work around 40 hours a week, with maximum shifts capped at 13 hours, alongside entitlement to replacement leave and additional compensation for extended shifts.

Asked whether the revised guidelines would be sufficient to address concerns that junior doctors often feel compelled to comply with excessive overtime instructions from superiors, Dzulkefly said governance and implementation at operational level would also be reviewed.

The minister indicated that improvements in hospital management practices would form part of broader efforts to ensure adherence to existing flexible working policies first introduced in 2011.

Also present at the event were Health director-general Datuk Dr Mahathar Abd Wahab and Clinical Research Malaysia chief executive officer Dr Akhmal Yusof.

Earlier, while officiating the fifth edition of DCRM Trial Connect 2026, Dzulkefly highlighted Malaysia’s continued efforts to position itself as a leading clinical research hub in Asia.

He said the conference, which brought together local and international research organisations and members of the clinical research community, reflected Malaysia’s readiness to uphold international standards and maintain high-quality clinical research implementation.

The programme also featured the 18th National Conference for Clinical Research, alongside exhibitions and award presentations recognising outstanding contributions by researchers, research organisations and sponsors. - May 7, 2026