Selangor Health Director Responds To Tired Doctor S Plea

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COVID-19 | The Selangor Health Department has responded to a tired doctor's plea, as highlighted in an open letter from a medical officer at the Sungai Buloh Hospital yesterday. 
Its director Dr Sha'ari Ngadiman said the department takes note of the concerns raised, highlighting a need for all sectors of the public health services to keep morale high among its personnel, in current times of Covid-19 crisis.
"The department also cares deeply about the healthcare workers' work environment, basic needs, as well as basic health and safety at all state health facilities in Selangor. 
"This is also to ensure that all healthcare facilities can deliver efficient and quality service for the people," he said in a statement on Facebook.
In terms of manpower, Sha'ari said the department has conducted a redeployment of medical officers, nurses and assistant medical officers either from within the state or out of state.
He said this was on top of the new intake of contract staff at the Sungai Buloh Hospital.
Sha'ari reiterated that all personnel working in Covid-19 care will also be eligible for the various approved allowances.
The doctor at the Sungai Buloh Hospital, among others, said many healthcare workers are working in a condition beyond "breaking point" with minimum access to basic amenities including on-call rooms and on-call food while on duty.
Addressing the issue of food, Sha'ari said food is distributed to on-call staff based on provisions laid out in a Health Ministry circular.
"At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, at Sungai Buloh Hospital, there was a large amount of food donations for frontliners received from NGOs, industries, agencies and others.
"However, at this time, the donations have reduced or had run out."
He said additional food supply remains available from the hospital cafeteria, food outlets as well as various online delivery services.
Meanwhile, Sha'ari said all staff at the Covid-19 wards are working on a shift system, while a dedicated rest area was provided away from the "red zone" that housed patients under treatment.
On the issue of mental health, Sha'ari said a Psychological First Aid service is available to all healthcare personnel in need of support or advice, with any necessary actions to be forwarded to the hospital's management, the department and the Health Ministry.
"At the same time, the hospital is working on improving its internal communications mechanism among staff and management," he added.
Aside from the doctor's open letter, Malaysiakini today highlighted the plight of another Sungai Buloh Hospital staff, Dr Mustafa Kamal, who took time off work to protect his mental health. 
Separately, Senator Husam Musa in an open letter to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin noted that there were available funds from allocations approved for Harapan senators which were cancelled under PN's administration.
"I believe the allocations are of a significant sum because the majority among us Harapan senators had no time to spend it at the time," he said.



Husam expressed hope the amount could be channelled for needs of hospitals nationwide or returned to the senators for their services. - Mkini

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