KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed schedule for nurses, resulting in longer hours and insufficient rest, may put them at risk for fatigue and compromise the quality of patient care, said The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy.
Its chief executive officer Azrul Mohd Khalib said they stood firm in support of the Malayan Nurses Union's (MNU) concern about the 45-hour workweek for nurses, reported recently.
In a statement today, he said the critical workforce, already overburdened by shortages and demanding shift schedules, must not be subjected to additional demands without adequate support and consideration of their unique challenges.
The country's healthcare system, he said, was facing an urgent workforce crisis, with 6,896 vacancies for nurses remaining unfilled in 2023, and an ongoing trend of mass resignations from the public health service.
"The recent directive by the Public Service Department (PSD) to streamline working hours to 45 hours a week, while aimed at uniformity and seems to adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, fails to address the nuanced realities of shift-based nursing roles and the physical, mental, and emotional toll they endure.
"The proposed schedules, which may result in longer hours and insufficient rest for nurses, risk exacerbating workforce fatigue, diminishing work-life balance, and compromising the quality of patient care.
"Nurses who commute long distances or balance caregiving roles at home, especially mothers, would face additional pressures, further intensifying existing challenges.
"It may push nurses to leave and resign from the public health service altogether," he said.
Azrul said the MNU had proposed pragmatic adjustments to mitigate these challenges, such as counting the additional hours as break time and adjusting shift hours.
These solutions, he added, deserved urgent consideration and implementation to prevent the erosion of nurse well-being and the sustainability of Malaysia's health care services.
To strengthen Malaysia's healthcare and workforce, Azrul said the Galen Centre emphasised prioritising three issues, namely, investing in workforce wellbeing; having tailored solutions for shift workers; and strategic workforce planning.
He said policies must focus on creating a supportive and sustainable work environment, provide flexibility in work hours and give realistic allowances.
Resolving the nursing shortage required long-term solutions, he added, including recruitment drives, retention strategies, and opportunities for professional development.
"We urge the PSD, the Health Ministry and relevant authorities to heed the concerns raised by the MNU and healthcare professionals across the country.
"Ensuring the welfare of nurses is not merely a workforce issue, it is a cornerstone of delivering safe, high-quality, and consistent care to patients nationwide," he added.
On Thursday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the new directive mandating an additional three working hours per week for ward nurses from Dec 1 was considered reasonable.
Currently, the implementation of the shift work schedule at the hospital is about 42 hours per week.
"If it is increased to 45 hours per week, nurses would essentially work four to six days a week, with one to three days of rest per week, and no less than eight hours and no more than 12 hours of work per day," he said.