KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has called on the government to allay the public’s fears that healthcare services nationwide have yet to be interrupted at present.
In a brief statement today, MMA president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said checks by the association so far revealed that there is no strike taking place at any of the public healthcare facilities throughout the country.
“However, the issue of public fear needs to be addressed.
“MMA has been receiving calls from the public asking if public healthcare facilities are operating as usual today and we have assured them that they indeed are,” he said.
MMA, he said, expressed hope that the Health Ministry would issue more frequent messaging through press statements and social media updates to reassure the public that all public healthcare services are being provided without any disruptions.
“Messages on the issue causing panic and fear are also being spread on social media. This too needs to be countered with the right messaging from the authorities.
“We advise the public to verify information they receive and only trust reliable and credible sources for any news or updates,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hartal Doktor Kontrak through its secretariat have stated their non-involvement in the supposed “Mogok Doktor Malaysia” (Malaysian Doctors on Strike) supposedly being held today.
In a statement, the group said that it had expressed their stance to Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, MMA, police, and media outlets prior.
“While we are not involved, we believe it is their right to protest and leave the circumstances of the protest to them.
“We do hope patient care is not jeopardised and healthcare services can resume once protests are done.”
Additionally, It also called on Dr Zaliha to include Hartal Doktor Kontrak as a member of the new high-level committee to discuss and tackle the contract doctors’ plight.
“Without proper representation the committee will not be impactful enough to solve the issue and will be the same as multiple previous committees looking into this issue.
“Our next step is to set up a national healthcare commission that will oversee, decide, and improve our nation’s healthcare services. We will work with Dr Zaliha and other ministers to expedite this process,” it added.
Mogok Doktor Malaysia expects at least 10,000 to 12,000 contract doctors to go on strike today.
Speaking to The Vibes via Instagram, a spokesman said that the move could see the nation’s public healthcare services coming to a halt.
Asked about pushback against the strike and the possibility that medical personnel may be hesitant to participate out of fear of being reprimanded, Mogok Doktor Malaysia said that it is time for doctors to prioritise themselves.
“My advice to contract doctors: please prioritise your own mental and physical well-being, and take medical leave whenever you feel burnt out.”
Mogok Doktor Malaysia is planning a three-day strike from today till April 5, warning the public that government healthcare facilities could see a spike in waiting times for patients.
The strike is understood to be calling for the government to award all contract medical officers a permanent position with fair compensation schemes.
However, at press time, no walk-outs have been reported so far.
In 2021, Hartal Doktor Kontrak had staged a nationwide walk-out. – The Vibes, April 3, 2023
