REMBAU – There needs to be a transformation of workplace culture to overcome bullying among public health sector workers, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said changes done will underscore new principles and workplace culture values to be adopted by the Health Ministry (MoH).
The findings of a review done by the Healthcare Work Culture Improvement Task Force (HWCITF), chaired by Prof Datuk Siti Hamisah Tapsir, were detailed and fair, he added.
Khairy said he will give full feedback on the report next week, but for now, the findings are likely to be adopted as part of the transformation of the MoH’s workplace culture.
“The survey involved a large number of respondents, namely more than 100,000 MoH staff members. The good news is that 60% are satisfied with MoH’s workplace culture currently.
“However, on the downside, there are some who claim there are bullying elements in the workplace that are quite toxic and so on, and this needs due attention,” he told reporters after presenting the Rembau district education office’s Excellent Service Awards here, today.
Khairy said work pressure can help junior doctors and nurses adapt to important tasks, but not to the extent where bullying, humiliation, verbal, mental and physical harassment take place.
He said guidelines and work ethics are important but what was more important is how to ensure that those guidelines are adopted in the workplace.
“Work pressure now is different from before so changes are needed to keep up with times, with an understanding of the new generation who have different expectations.
“I think it is not just confined to MoH. Every organisation must have a ‘zero harassment, zero bullying (policy)’… a person’s dignity must be protected, otherwise, organisations will not achieve maximum productivity among its workers,” he stressed.
Out of 110,411 MoH respondents in the HWCITF survey, 60% stated that the ministry’s work culture was positive, especially with regard to patient care, community and teamwork.
Another 20%, however, said negative work culture existed, including elements of bullying.
Separately, Khairy said the MoH will look into the issue of a shortage of nurses in public health facilities and find the best solutions.
He said the ministry was in the midst of a recruitment process, adding that it has also been asked to train more people to become nurses. – Bernama, August 18, 2022
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