MCA has urged the Public Service Department and Ministry of Health to reconsider plans to increase the working hours for nurses from 42 to 45 hours from March 1, 2025.
“We stand firmly in support of the Malayan Nurses Union (MNU) and recognise the invaluable role nurses play as the immediate frontliners in our healthcare system.
“Nurses are not just caregivers but are often the first line of defence in treating patients with any health ailment, as well as managing emotional outbursts from patients or their family members.
“Being in regular contact with patients, nurses are also the first to be susceptible to the airborne and non-communicable diseases carried by their infected patients,” said MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.
These extraordinary responsibilities, he said, are compounded by a lack of adequate work-life balance, which can lead to exhaustion and burnout.
The current conditions in the nursing profession are contributing to a critical shortage, with our public healthcare system already facing a deficit of 9,000 nurses, he stressed.
“This shortage is not only putting immense pressure on existing staff but is also causing an exodus of nurses to the private sector or to countries like Singapore, Australia, and the Middle East.
“Here, nurses are offered much higher salaries, better working conditions, and opportunities for professional development.
“The extra hours coerced unto nurses may also cause those close to mandatory retirement to opt for early retirement,” he cautioned.
Dr Mah said the lack of sufficient rest is directly linked to an increase in accidents among nurses.
“Without adequate recovery time, nurses are at greater risk of physical and mental exhaustion, resulting in even fewer available professionals to rotate through shifts.
This only exacerbates the strain on an already overstretched workforce, impacting the quality of care provided to patients,”.
He said the government seriously needs to tackle the root causes of why public nurses are leaving the government healthcare services via enhancing the remuneration of nurses, ensuring fair compensation for their hard work and sacrifices.
“Considering that many nurses are mothers to infants, young children or teenagers, a more sustainable work-life balance is critical to enable these nurses to spend quality time raising their children in their formative years
“Now is the time for meaningful change to honour the contributions of nurses and to safeguard the future of our healthcare system,” added Dr Mah.- February 23, 2025
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