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KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has condemned criticism levelled against it by Hartal Doktor Kontrak (HDK) and Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy over the purported bullying culture among healthcare workers.
MMA president Dr Koh Kar Chai said the comments by HDK and Ramasamy were unfair, insisting the association has been actively addressing the issue for many years.
Koh said HDK and Ramasamy’s comments suggested they did not scrutinise the association’s full statement and additional comments made during a press conference at the headquarters in Jalan Pahang yesterday.
“The comments they made seem to be based on a few media reports they read and not our full press statement. The MMA reiterates its stand that it does not condone any form of bullying. Period,” Koh said in the statement.
This follows reports of Ramasamy and HDK flaying MMA, accusing it of being out of touch with reality and downplaying the bullying that exists in the medical fraternity.
Ramasamy had accused Koh of missing “the elephant in the room” over the issue of bullying among junior doctors, saying he should refrain from commenting if he has no solutions to suggest.
HDK described Koh’s statement as “troubling”, and that he appeared to downplay the severity of the situation, invalidating the trauma suffered by victims.
MMA’s statement said Koh had during his press conference called for proper definitions on the act of bullying to allow appropriate action be taken against culprits and those affected.
He reiterated that despite only a small number of complaints reaching official complaint channels, such numbers could suggest the tip of an iceberg of a bigger situation.
MMA said its HelpDoc platform initiated in 2016 was evident of its stand against bullying, insisting the accusations as unfair.
“MMA has never played down the issue of bullying, hence the call was made to end the culture of fear within the Health Ministry.”
Talk of bullying running rampant among healthcare workers resurfaced after a Penang houseman died after allegedly falling from his apartment building.
The houseman, whose name has been withheld due to a request from his parents, was posted to the hospital just three weeks before his sudden demise here. This is believed to be the second death to involve a junior doctor in the span of two years.
In December 2020, The Vibes reported that another doctor who had resigned from the same hospital had died suddenly.
Following the incidents, there was an outcry from NGOs and the public for the Health Ministry to set up an investigation committee to probe the allegations. – The Vibes, May 11, 2022
