Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) is deeply concerned over the recent governance failure and incompetence within the Ministry of Health (MOH) concerning the Waktu Bekerja Berlainan (WBB) shift system.
It is unacceptable that Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad was unaware of the WBB circular, which was issued and scheduled for implementation without his approval.
This incident highlights systemic issues in MOH’s leadership and decision-making processes. We echo Dr Akmal Saleh’s call for accountability and urge immediate action to address these failures.
HDK calls for the following:
- Leadership Revamp: A complete overhaul of MOH’s top management, including heads of services who support the flawed implementation of WBB, to ensure effective and transparent governance.
- Accountability: Immediate action to hold individuals responsible for bypassing proper procedures accountable, preventing similar issues in the future.
- Scrap WBB Implementation: Scrap the unjust and illogical WBB pilot until thorough consultations with health care professionals and stakeholders are conducted to address their concerns.
- Formation of Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Kesihatan: Establish an independent Health Services Commission to address systemic issues in health care service schemes, with a focus on improving the conditions for health care professionals. This eliminates lobbying and half baked solutions if and only if the members are selected capable leaders.
The town hall held by MOH’s top management today, where they insisted on pushing forward with WBB despite overwhelming opposition from doctors, underscores a severe disconnect between Kompleks E, Putrajaya, and the realities faced by health care workers on the ground.
Many heads of services have shown their alignment with this decision, further eroding trust and morale among medical professionals.
It is clear today why MOH has been going downhill for years. Despite being given thousands of ideas and solutions, they always seem to make the wrong decisions. Is MOH being sabotaged from the inside?
Failure by the health minister to take urgent and decisive action will reflect poorly on his leadership and the government’s commitment to addressing the grievances of public healthcare workers.
HDK demands immediate and transparent measures to rebuild trust and protect the future of Malaysia’s public health care system.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
