KUALA LUMPUR: The government must take the sentiments of public healthcare workers seriously and speed-up the much-needed reforms to address their longstanding problems.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Finance Minister, should step up to address roadblocks in implementing required reforms.
He said this amid rumours of healthcare workers going on strike.
Dr Muruga said this issue should not be seen as the sole responsibility of the Health Ministry, but also that of the Finance Ministry and Public Service Department (PSD).
"The health minister is committed to reforms in our healthcare system, however the support of the Finance Ministry and PSD will be vital to ensuring that reforms can be carried out.
"Many of the issues especially involving its human resources will require budgeting and planning by the Finance Ministry and the PSD. MPs from both sides of the divide should also support efforts to reform the healthcare system," he said in a statement today.
He said while MMA does not condone any strike, the frustration and burnout among public healthcare workers had "reached its limits" and they now want their voices heard.
He pointed out that there were still not enough permanent positions to provide doctors on contract with secure employment, public healthcare facilities were still overcrowded, manpower shortages still exist, and that most healthcare workers were underpaid and overworked. These issues, he said had been brought up in a number of meetings with the Health Ministry and various press statements had been issued by the MMA.
"The alarm bells on the healthcare system and its human resources being stretched to the limit have been ringing for years. In the last four years, there have been 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 also attributed many of the issues in the healthcare system to "failed policies of the past", such as the commercialisation of medical education which led to the mushrooming of medical schools and the contract doctor system which was introduced in 2016.
"We hope that the current prime minister, as a reformist himself, with the power he now has after waiting over 30 years, will right the wrongs of the past with reforms.
"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."
Dr Muruga expressed hope that the tabling of the 2023 Budget would reflect the government's commitment to healthcare reforms.
"MMA had asked for an increase in the health budget to five per cent of the nation's GDP. This should be the minimum spend allocated for health," he added.