KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 — Dzulkefly Ahmad told Parliament today that he has taken action to resolve the shortage of medical officers in anaesthesiology and intensive care at Sibu Hospital in Sarawak.
During the health minister’s winding up of the debate on the motion of thanks for the royal address, Sibu MP Oscar Ling Chai Yew asked about the issue that was reported by a Sibu Hospital doctor in a letter to CodeBlue recently.
“I’ve been following this issue. I have alerted my director-general and my deputy director-general (medical) to immediately resolve the shortage,” Dzulkefly told the Dewan Rakyat.
“I have already taken action.”
The Sibu Hospital doctor’s letter alleged critical manpower shortages of medical officers within anaesthesiology and intensive care at the district hospital, leading to overworked doctors and compromising patient safety.
Shortly after the complaint was published on CodeBlue last Friday, Sibu Hospital deputy director Dr Nizam Ishak purportedly listed several punitive measures for the anaesthesiology team for calling “for public attention.”
His alleged WhatsApp message, which has triggered public anger online, instructed all post-call medical officers to stay until 4.30pm to do peripheral rounds and perform duties at the anaesthesiology clinic.
Dr Nizam also allegedly wrote that he would not approve any courses for anaesthesiology medical officers outside Sarawak and that new applications for specialisation would be reviewed. He further sought to limit the number of medical officers on leave per day.
