New Healthcare Shift System Is Optional Says Minister

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Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said the new shift system aims to address the long-standing issue of excessive work hours among healthcare professionals. (Reuters pic)
PUTRAJAYA: The newly proposed shift system for healthcare workers, known as “Waktu Bekerja Berlainan” (WBB), is merely an optional addition to the current system to meet the needs and capabilities of public hospitals, says health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He said the initiative aims to address the long-standing issue of excessive work hours among healthcare professionals, some of whom work up to 33 consecutive hours or clock 99 hours a week.
“The work shift arrangements depend on the capabilities and resources of each department and hospital administration,” he told a press conference at the ministry here.
“The pilot programme is an opportunity for improvement. We will continue holding engagement sessions with the medical officers involved in the trial and review their feedback.”
Dzulkefly said the ministry’s medical advisory and action committee (MAAC) would decide whether or not to implement the pilot phase and if it would proceed on Feb 1.
“To determine whether to pilot it on Feb 1 or whenever, that’s up to them,” he said.
Previously, Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh called for the implementation of the new system to be postponed due to concerns of strain on the public healthcare system.
Akmal had also urged the minister to act against those who approved the WBB without his knowledge.
This came after it was reported that a Jan 10 circular by health ministry medical development division director Dr Azman Yacob had announced that the first phase of the new system would take effect on Feb 1 and involve eight departments across seven government hospitals.
Dzulkefly today acknowledged that the internal circular which was leaked to the public had resulted in confusion and assured stakeholders that the WBB was still in its trial phase.
The minister previously said that he had not been briefed on the system nor given his approval, and that it was a “recommendation” that was still being fine-tuned.
Separately, Dzulkefly was also asked about updates on the allowance increase promised to government doctors.
“I had the opportunity to speak with the prime minister earlier on the matter. He informed me to wait for the Cabinet meeting this Friday for a definitive decision,” he said.
Earlier this month, the Malaysian Medical Association called out the health ministry for being “elusive” about promised higher on-call allowances for doctors.
Commenting on refugees getting 50% discount at government healthcare facilities, Dzulkefly said for now the policy remained status quo.
The health ministry currently provides a 50% discount on the foreigner’s rate to UNHCR cardholders at public hospitals.
However, activists said, the fees are still unaffordable to many refugees. - FMT

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