The Instagram accounts of Mogok Doctor Malaysia appeared to be inaccessible today just two days into its planned three-day strike.
It remains unclear if the accounts were deactivated or otherwise.
The accounts were used as its main platform to disseminate information about the strike.
The Star today reported that the group earlier claimed the strike had “successfully reached its aim”.
This is despite news reports, both yesterday and today, claiming otherwise.
A spokesperson for Mogok Doktor Malaysia, who would only identify himself as “Dr Jamal” revealed to The Star that 3,000 doctors have participated in the protest thus far.
The group claimed yesterday that 10,000 to 20,000 contract doctors would participate in the strike - potentially collapsing the public healthcare system.
The 3,000 figure reported was also lower than the group’s initial estimate that 8,000 doctors would go on strike based on a survey they purportedly conducted in February.
Checks by several media outlets showed that public hospitals across the nation were not affected by the strike, with medical services running smoothly.
Doctors who Malaysiakini spoke to also revealed they would not participate in the strike due to the suspicious anonymity of the strike’s organisers.
Low input of patients
Jamal was quoted as saying said the strike caused a minimal impact on the public healthcare system as there was a low number of patients yesterday.
He claimed the number of medical personnel was sufficient even without contract doctors working that day.
“The patient rate was reduced by 30 percent overall, but at the same time, there are contract doctors who took medical or emergency leave for the strike; some medical officers had to carry out jobs that are supposed to be done by house officers.
“It seems like nothing happened because the crowds (were) reduced and so the workforce was adequate to manage,” Jamal was quoted as saying.
“Jamal” is the only name linked to the Mogok Doktor Malaysia group. It is unclear if any others were involved.
Yesterday, when Malaysiakini contacted the group, Mogok Doktor Malaysia refused to respond to queries about the strike, claiming that the news portal was owned by “DAP or Pakatan Harapan-linked (political) parties”.
This led to speculation online on whether Perikatan Nasional was behind the group.
However, a member of PN’s health committee denied this, saying the coalition was only in support of Mogok Doktor Malaysia. - Mkini
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