First do no harm, MMA reminds doctors planning strike

 

Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said any resignations should be done responsibly. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association has reminded a group of government doctors planning a nationwide strike next week of the Hippocratic Oath and urged them to call off their protest.

Its president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said the group of doctors should also stop encouraging mass resignations as it could have serious consequences, including sparking a major healthcare crisis.

Muruga said a strike would cause major inconvenience for the sick, injured and elderly who could be relying on public healthcare. It would also cause public anxiety, he said.

“We wish to remind the group of the oath they took to ‘first do no harm’ when they were sworn in as doctors.

“Their friends and family who rely on public healthcare can also be affected if they were to proceed with the strike and so we hope they make the wise decision of not proceeding with it,” he said in a statement.

Muruga was responding to an Instagram post by Mogok Doktor Malaysia (Malaysian Doctors on Strike) that warned of longer waiting time at health clinics and public hospitals during the planned strike from April 3 to 5.

Over 8,000 contract doctors are expected to go on strike by taking medical or emergency leave as a protest against the unfair system and low wages.

The group had also previously warned of 3,000 resignations on April 1.

Muruga said mass resignations would cripple hospital departments and compromise healthcare delivery which could result in the loss of lives.

“If anyone plans to resign, it should be done responsibly with proper notice given.”

Yesterday, Muruga said the association did not condone the strike although he understood why healthcare workers would resort to such tactics. - FMT