KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) today called for immediate reforms to address workplace bullying, health workers’ mental health, and staff shortages in the public health service.
The contract doctors’ group pointed out that despite the 2022 release of findings from a task force formed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on workplace bullying, the death of Lahad Datu Hospital chemical pathologist Dr Tay Tien Yaa from suicide last month showed the need for more decisive action.
“We call for immediate implementation of actionable reforms, including establishing a transparent, independent, and accessible reporting system for all health care workers,” HDK said in a statement.
“There must be concrete steps to enforce anti-bullying policies and hold those responsible for workplace harassment accountable, regardless of their position within the hierarchy.”
HDK also called for mental health support services to be made accessible to all health care professionals, particularly those working in high-stress or remote environments.
“Dr Tay’s death serves as a painful reminder of the urgent need for reforms to address chronic understaffing and overburdening, which exacerbate stress and mental health concerns.”
Then-Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa told the Dewan Negara last December that MOH’s MyHELP complaints channel received 206 complaints in one year from October 1, 2022 to November 1, 2023, out of which only 12 were categorised as “bullying”.
“Complaints that have been investigated and proven as incidents of bullying were given a recommendation of appropriate intervention, based on the regulations that are in force,” Dr Zaliha said in a written parliamentary reply.
The MyHELP system is a bullying complaints system launched by the MOH on October 1, 2022. The system allowed for officers to relay their complaints of bullying directly to the MOH’s Integrity Unit Headquarters, bypassing their supervisor or head of department.
Dr Zaliha’s successor, Dzulkefly Ahmad, posted on X earlier today that Dr Tay’s death must be further investigated, stressing his position on “zero tolerance” towards bullying that he had held when he was first appointed health minister in 2018.
“Lest you’ve forgotten what action l took in my 1st term, please Google. I understand this toxic work culture still persists, so PERPETRATORS JUST STOP IT!”
An orthopaedic head of department (HOD) at Sungai Buloh Hospital in Selangor, accused of sexually harassing trainee doctors, was sacked from public service in 2018 during Dzulkefly’s tenure as health minister.
Dzulkefly also reposted a 2022 op-ed, which he penned when he was an Opposition MP, about the “culture of fear” in the public health service and how junior doctors are vulnerable to bullying from their seniors.
“Many MOH staff members are working in fear. Those in senior positions may not agree, but it is the truth,” he wrote in his op-ed.
“Finally, the buck stops at the highest levels in office, namely the health minister, the director-general, the state directors, and the HODs.”
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president-elect Dr R. Arasu stressed the importance of psychological safety and a non-toxic work culture in the health care system.
“We must ensure a safe, conducive workspace that promotes support and respect, allowing everyone to grow and succeed,” he posted on X.
In a Facebook post last Saturday, Dr Tay’s brother blamed his sister’s death on bullying from Dr Tay’s superior. The specialist doctor, who died in her 30s, was transferred to Lahad Datu, Sabah, from the peninsula in February this year, just five months after she got married in September 2023.
