KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 7 — Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa is very thankful that the anonymous movement calling itself “Mogok Doktor Malaysia” that campaigned to disrupt the country’s healthcare services this week to highlight the work conditions of junior doctors had failed to take off.
The movement had gone on social media to spread its call for doctors in public hospitals to join their three-day “strike” from April 3 to 5.
“It seems that the (strike) is seen as threatening and provocative and have certain interests that are willing to take advantage of security and people's lives.
“In this regard, I would like to emphasise that a strike is not one the best solution to deal with every problem that arises, instead the matter needs to be dealt with more prudent and professional through the right platform.
“I would also like to express my gratitude to top leadership of the Health Ministry, as well as service chiefs in their readiness to face any possibilities,” Dr Zaliha said in a statement today.
Government hospitals had been on alert for the three-day strike involving around 8,000 doctors since Mogok Doktor Malaysia said it had asked doctors to take emergency or medical leave between April 3 and 5 as a sign of protest and even warned of possible mass resignations.
The group wanted the Health Ministry to absorb all contract medical officers (MOs) and house officers; and prepare an automatic reduction in the compulsory service term for medical officers to three years.
Among others, it also called for a reduction in on-call and work hours for MOs and house officers, while on-call hours should not exceed six times a month, and working hours need to be capped at 60 hours a week.
Prior to this, the Health Ministry had issued reminders to doctors against participating in the strike through a circular by the Public Service Department director-general.
Dr Zaliha had warned that strikers would face disciplinary action for breaching the civil servants’ integrity and public service code.
