KUALA LUMPUR, August 7 — Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi has defended his open calls to the Ministry of Health (MOH) for additional health care workers, like doctors and nurses.
He pointed out that if schools lacked teachers, a state government would refer to the Education Ministry. If there was a shortage of immigration officers, the matter would be brought to the Home Ministry and immigration department.
“Likewise, if MOH hospitals are short of health care workers, of course the matter needs to be referred to the MOH,” Onn Hafiz said in a statement today.
He was responding to criticisms from former Johor state executive councillor Mohd Solihin Badri and consultant nephrologist Dr Rafidah Abdullah of his complaint last Tuesday about how Pasir Gudang Hospital (HPG) still can’t accept patients despite opening last year because of a staff shortage.
According to Onn Hafiz, less than half or 1,079 out of 2,271 positions for the specialist hospital were filled, leaving 1,192 vacancies for specialist doctors, nurses, and other health care workers. HPG has specialist services in paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthesiology, radiology, pathology, orthopaedics, otorhinolaryngology, and ophthalmology.
In a Facebook post last Wednesday, Dr Rafidah told the Johor MB to target Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the Public Services Commission (SPA), and the Public Service Department (JPA) instead of directing his demands to the MOH.
She said the prime minister, SPA, and JPA should provide permanent positions, restore pensions, and increase salaries and allowances for health care workers. “Anyone who mentions MOH and adds MOH’s stress without fighting for what’s relevant is merely engaging in theatre (‘wayang’) to me.”
Onn Hafiz today stressed that the Johor state government wasn’t politicising the issue, pointing out that the state’s shortage of doctors and nurses was now at a “critical level”.
“MOH had agreed to immediately fill critical vacancies in HSA (Sultanah Aminah Hospital), HSI (Sultan Ismail Hospital), and Kulai Hospital, besides increasing manpower at Pasir Gudang Hospital,” he said.
“Unfortunately, until now, staffing problems in the health sector in Johor have yet to be solved. That’s why I was forced to demand that the MOH fulfil its promises.”
The MB also pointed out that JPA has already granted MOH a mandate to manage distribution of health care positions, according to the need of facilities.
“While awaiting a resolution from MOH, the state government has not merely acted as an observer or advocate. We have provided whatever assistance we are able to. Various initiatives have been and are being implemented by the state government to help reduce the overall burden on the MOH,” said Onn Hafiz.
Among the initiatives by the state government are:
- Funding the placement of locum doctors at major hospitals, including HSA and HSI, to assist emergency departments in reducing waiting times and the workload of existing staff.
- Establishing Southern Volunteers Healthcare.
- Improving the welfare of health care workers by upgrading more than 460 pantry rooms at health facilities throughout Johor.
- Providing medicine delivery by post, in addition to expanding facilities, such as Locker4U, to reduce the need for patients to attend solely to collect their follow-up medication.
- Providing additional ambulances, as well as asset and medical equipment assistance to hospitals and health facilities.
- Implementing decanting clinics, involving the relocation of certain services to alternative locations to reduce congestion at existing health facilities and provide greater comfort for both health care workers and the public.
Establishing collaboration with the private sector, including KPJ Healthcare, to provide support in terms of expertise and manpower.
“It is therefore clear that the Johor state government is not merely putting on a ‘show’ when it comes to the lives, health, and welfare of the people of Johor. As I have said, we are only demanding what was promised. That is why we are speaking up and calling on those who have the authority to fulfil their responsibilities.”
