KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) is urging the Health Ministry to make department heads at public healthcare facilities take full accountability for cases of bullying.
The association made the suggestion during a recent town hall in Putrajaya.
"Any healthcare workers who feel they are being bullied, regardless of rank, should report the matter to MMA's HelpDoc or the Health Ministry via MyHelp so that the necessary actions can be taken" said MMA president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai in a statement today.
"Do not fear the senior colleagues or the hospital management. Make a report and if it is a sexual harassment, report it to the police. Do not suffer in silence."
Dr Muruga stressed that bullying had no place in healthcare and should not be tolerated. He said lodging a report and acting against bullying can improve the worker's situation.
"We also laud the swift action by Health Minister who has ordered for an immediate and thorough investigation to be carried out on the alleged bullying incident at Sungai Buloh Hospital's Obstetrics and Gynaecology department, as reported by a medical portal, CodeBlue. However, making the heads accountable will be a good deterrent," Dr Muruga Raj said.
As an additional step to avoid incidences of bullying, he said the ministry should also look into housemen not being overworked by only letting them work during the rostered period at the public healthcare facilities.