Over the past few years, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has been plagued by various problems. Just as we think it cannot get worse, they are able to lower the bar even more in terms of competency.
The most recent debacle with regards to the placement of medical officers further reveals the deep-seated problem of weak leadership in the MOH.
It has only been about two years since Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah retired as the Health Director-General (DG). Since Dr Noor Hisham’s departure from the MOH, the current DG seems to be clueless about issues affecting the profession.
It is startling considering that many of these issues existed even in the past, but it was never as big a deal as it is today. Perhaps the former DG knew how to mitigate problems and address them accordingly.
The Waktu Bekerja Berlainan (WBB) concept was mooted many years ago, but Dr Noor Hisham did not see it as viable, hence he did not push it through.
It is baffling that despite knowing the problems, the current leadership in MOH still went ahead with it and had to make a barefaced U-turn later.
Being mystified about an official circular and indulging in finger-pointing only reveals the weaknesses of the top management. If such an event or excuse is given at the hospital level, a “tindakan tataterbib” would have been taken against the head of department or specialist in charge.
However, when such comical errors are committed by the top people in MOH, no action seems to be taken. This is an astounding hypocrisy practised by medical personnel in Putrajaya when they preach responsibility and accountability to doctors on the ground.
The MOH needs a complete overhaul to prevent a sinking ship from completely sinking. Do away with the old ways of promoting people based on the “next in line” or seniority and put competent people in positions of power. Doing the same thing again and again, expecting different results, is not intelligent.
Replace the DG with someone who is capable and in touch with reality. Take, for example, Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) – when Dr Harikrishna K.R. Nair was appointed as the hospital director last year after the former director retired, there were mutters of unhappiness among some quarters because the next in-line administrator or the most senior did not assume the position.
Instead, a senior clinician was entrusted with the position. Over the past year, HKL has progressed so much that some say the current hospital director has surpassed many of his predecessors who helmed the seat for years.
This is a clear case of looking outside the box and doing things differently. A report card on HKL’s performance and progress is constantly updated on their social media page; it is impressive in such a short time of leadership.
The powers beyond should look at HKL’s story and do the same with MOH. It is futile promoting a deputy DG to replace Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan when he retires.
It is akin to escaping the crocodile’s mouth, only to enter the tiger’s mouth. Unless drastic changes happen, the continuous decline of MOH is imminent and the future remains bleak.
Tajuddin Rosli is a concerned citizen who lives in Kuala Lumpur.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
