Bersatu Youth launches task force against bullying in hospitals

Bersatu Youth launched the Tunku Abdul Rahman Movement to aid the Health Ministry to resolve bullying in hospitals yesterday.

This comes after the Healthcare Work Culture Improvement Task Force (HWCITF) released their 162-page report, which contained results from a survey they conducted in May.

At a press conference yesterday, Bersatu Youth information chief Mohd Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir emphasised the need for a better report.

“After looking through the report with medical practitioners, we have come to the conclusion that the report does not answer the question of whether bullying happens to house officers and junior medical doctors,” he said.

Health Minister Khairuddin Jamaluddin set up the HWCITF after a house officer from Penang General Hospital was found dead on April 17 after falling from his apartment building.

The suspected suicide occurred just two weeks after the deceased reported for duty at the hospital.

This incident, along with several complaints by staff in public health service, pushed Khairy to establish this task force.

Surveillance teams

Meanwhile, Ashraf said the HWCITF report also did not clearly describe the steps taken to resolve the issue of bullying.

“There was nothing in the report about potential actions or punishments that would be handed out to the bully.

“This would cause the victims to feel less confident to report any cases of bullying, as they would feel that nothing would happen to their bullies,” he said.

The Tunku Abdul Rahman Movement will be led by medical practitioner Dr Aiman Alias.

Ashraf also gave several suggestions for the HWCITF to consider, including forming a smaller task force to refine the report and placing a surveillance team at every Health Ministry hospital department to observe and report anyone who is a bully.

Other suggestions were to produce clear criteria for bullying in the workplace and to ensure the Malaysia Medical Council gives out strict warnings to bullies about potential punishments.

“Bersatu Youth wholeheartedly thanks HWCITF for their effort in producing the report.

“However, we (Bersatu Youth) feel that the task is not yet finished, and there is still room for improvement.

“In the meantime, we (Tunku Abdul Rahman Movement) will get ready to hand in a memorandum to the Health Ministry in the near future,” said Ashraf. - Mkini