Think tank against longer working hours for ‘already overburdened’ nurses

 

Nurses on ward duty will be required to work 45 hours a week, instead of the present 42 hours, under the civil service remuneration system to come into effect on Dec 1.

PETALING JAYA: 

A health think tank has opposed longer working hours for nurses, saying they must not be subjected to additional demands without adequate support and consideration of their unique challenges.

Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy (Galen) said the additional three hours a week that nurses are expected to put in  under the civil service remuneration system (SSPA) “fail to address the nuanced realities of shift-based nursing roles and the physical, mental and emotional toll they endure”.

Azrul Khalib.

Its CEO, Azrul Khalib, said nurses in public hospitals, who will be required to work 45 hours a week beginning Dec 1, may risk having insufficient rest, resulting in workforce fatigue, diminishing work-life balance, and compromising the quality of patient care.

“(Galen) stands firmly in support of the Malayan Nurses Union’s concern over the 45-hour workweek for nurses,” Azrul said in a statement today, adding that the nursing sector is “already overburdened by shortages and demanding shift schedules”.

Warning that the directive may force nurses to leave the public health service, he said those who commute long distances or balance caregiving roles at home, especially mothers, would face additional pressures, further intensifying their existing challenges.

“The Malayan Nurses Union has proposed pragmatic adjustments to mitigate these challenges, such as counting the additional hours as break time and adjusting shift hours.

“These solutions deserve urgent consideration and implementation to prevent the erosion of the nurses’ well-being and the sustainability of Malaysia’s healthcare services,” he said.

Azrul said the healthcare system is facing an urgent workforce crisis. In 2023, he said, there were 6,896 vacancies for nurses which remained largely unfilled.

“There is also an ongoing trend of mass resignations of these vital healthcare workers from the public health service.

“This alarming reality underlines the pressing need to not only retain but also support and expand the nursing workforce,” he said.

Galen proposed three priorities for the health ministry:

• Investing in workforce well-being
  It said policies must focus on creating a supportive and sustainable work environment that includes fair compensation, adequate rest periods, and mental health support.
• Tailored solutions for shift workers
  Nursing roles demand a specialised approach distinct from office-based civil servants. Flexibility in work hours and realistic allowances are critical to addressing their unique challenges, it said.
• Strategic workforce planning
  Galen said resolving the nursing shortage requires long-term solutions, including recruitment drives, retention strategies, and opportunities for professional development.

“We urge the public service department, the health ministry and relevant authorities to heed the concerns raised by the Malayan Nurses Union and health care professionals across the country.

“Ensuring the welfare of nurses is not merely a workforce issue – it is a cornerstone of delivering safe, high-quality, and consistent care to patients nationwide,” Azrul said. - FMT