The Covid-19 pandemic was one of the greatest challenges faced by health care workers in modern history. Many of us, driven by duty and compassion, stood on the frontlines, battling an invisible enemy with unwavering dedication.
Yet, as the dust settled and the world moved on, the sacrifices made by health care workers — once hailed as heroes — were conveniently forgotten into oblivion.
Before the Covid pandemic struck, I had already been approved for a transition to a non-clinical role within the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) due to health concerns.
The necessary paperwork had been processed, the official letter had been issued, and all arrangements were in place. But when Covid-19 hit, I made the conscious decision to delay this transition.
I felt it was my moral obligation to stay and contribute in the fight against a crisis that threatened the very foundation of our health care system.
I stayed, enduring gruelling on-call duties, wearing suffocating PPE for hours on end, witnessing colleagues break down from exhaustion, and watching patients suffer and die in isolation.
We all gave in our best, and we did it without question, believing that our efforts would not only save lives but also be acknowledged and appreciated. However, once the battle was won, the narrative changed. The applause faded, the appreciation waned, and the system reverted to its old ways.
When I finally requested to transition to a non-clinical role within MOH, I was met with indifference and cold-shoulder treatment. Despite numerous appeals and clear documentation supporting my case, my requests were ignored or deflected.
It was as if my contribution during the pandemic had no bearing, as though my personal sacrifices meant nothing.
What is most disheartening is the realisation that the system does not recognise nor reward integrity and selflessness. Those who took the easy way out, those who avoided the frontlines when the need was greatest, now enjoy comfortable positions in a corner room at the ivory tower.
Meanwhile, those who put their lives at risk, who fought without hesitation, are left to fend for themselves, their struggles swept under the carpet.
The pandemic should have been a lesson in humanity, resilience, and the importance of valuing our health care workers. Instead, it became a stark reminder of how fleeting gratitude can be.
While politicians stood in front of cameras taking credit for our sacrifices, making grand speeches about our heroism, they have now abandoned us. They capitalised on our struggles for political gain, but when it came time to stand by us, they turned a blind eye.
Some politicians even had the audacity to suggest that I seek help from the Opposition, as if my contributions to the nation’s health care system were irrelevant to them unless it served their political interests.
Equally complicit in this betrayal are state and hospital directors or administrators who should have been our strongest advocates. Instead of recognising our dedication and standing up for those who kept the health care system afloat during the crisis, they chose to protect their own interests.
They buried our requests under bureaucratic red tape, dismissed our concerns, and prioritised their own power and comfort over the well-being of their staff. Those who made real sacrifices were discarded, while those who played politics and stayed out of the fight were rewarded with promotions, privileges, and Datukship titles.
Today, I stand at a crossroads, questioning whether doing the right thing was truly worth it. Because in this health care system, there is no good deed that goes unpunished!
The author is currently a medical doctor at a government hospital in Perak. CodeBlue is giving the author anonymity because civil servants are prohibited from writing to the press.
This article is part of a special CodeBlue series marking the fifth anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring Covid-19 as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
