Appalling Response By Hospital Mgmt To Overworked Doctors Plea Leads To Calls For Administrators To Turun Padang

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THE spotlight has been on the healthcare profession for some time now with issues such as overworked doctors in the public sector among the talking points.
This was again highlighted in a post shared on X by mental healthcare professional  Johan Ariff Juhari (@JohanAJuhari) whereby a doctor had complained about acute manpower shortage at the Sibu Hospital in Sarawak.

Ironically, the response from the hospital’s Deputy Director I – Dr Nizam Ishak – was nothing short of shocking.
His suggestions to address the issue included extending the working hours. He further stated that he would refrain altogether from approving any more requests to attend courses.

This is where the poster pointed out that similar problems existed in public health facilities throughout Malaysia with such punitive and face-saving responses being typical in an effort to gain that extra pound of flesh.
Some commenters were in disbelief that a plea to solve a pertinent manpower issue was met with punitive measures against existing staff. The arrogant tone also rubbed many the wrong way.

One commenter suggested that the call to limit the number of medical officers (MOs) on leave each day was akin to slavery

While some enquired how does the Health Ministry (MPH) view such perceived arrogance of its hospital administrators? One remarked that Dr Nizam sounds just like “a bully”.

Another very pointedly asked why can’t the hospital administrators turun padang (get to the ground to meet his subordinates face-to-face on the ground).
Were all administrators so occupied that they could not lend a hand? The commenter also asked why the Sibu Hospital’s website was suddenly inaccessible as he wanted to see what Dr Nizam’s face looked like.

The call to ‘walk the walk – not just talk the talk’ – was echoed by many others.

While others called for greater accountability with some suggesting Dr Nizam should be demoted or even resign for his petulant response.

While one netizen came up with a novel solution – for all the MOs to take emergency leave for one day and to let Dr Nizam to shoulder the responsibility on his own.

Some harped on the irony of specialist doctors not being mobilised to alleviate the burden on MOs.

More than a few saw this as more signs that the public health system has collapsed with such issues causing an exodus of qualified personnel.

A few commenters placed the blame squarely at the door of the MOH whose silence on various issues speaks volumes. One even contended that it only knows how to make matters worse.

With one lamenting the endless red tape plaguing the recruitment process. This is the result of placing the responsibility solely on the Public Services Department (JPA).

While there are always two sides to every story, Dr Nizam’s response is far from satisfactory. One netizen called him a “dinosaur” while another labelled him a “Little Napoleon”.

Many commenters had some choice words for Dr Nizam with one pointing out his lack of empathy making him totally unsuited for his role as hospital administrator (he even tagged Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad in his response).

However, one netizen’s sarcastic response probably summed it up best. 

- Focus Malaysia

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