KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry is set to issue guidelines for managing workplace bullying for its staff through the National Centre of Excellence for Mental Health (NCEMH).
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the guidelines are aimed at raising awareness among healthcare workers regarding workplace bullying.
While creating a safe and harmonious work environment that is free from the bullying threat, Dr Dzulkefly said the guidelines will also clarify reporting procedures, outline prevention and intervention measures for both individuals and organisations.
"As the ministry which is leading the health sector, various efforts and initiatives have been implemented to end bullying issues to safeguard the mental wellbeing of ministerial staff.
"In principle, the ministry does not compromise on the issue of bullying.
"The ministry also takes a firm and transparent approach by reporting the findings once investigations are completed," he said in a parliamentary written reply on Monday (Oct 21).
He said this in response to Dr Kelvin Yee Lee Wuen (PH-Bandar Kuching) who enquired about the ministry's plan to eradicate bullying issues in government hospitals and clinics.
On Oct 16, Dr Dzulkefly said the ministry will identify and investigate hospitals with reported cases of doctors getting bullied.
He also said a special task force will look into these cases, following the death of a pathologist at Lahad Datu Hospital, and it would expand the investigation to other healthcare facilities.