KUALA LUMPUR: The findings from a survey on doctors conducted by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) revealed that bullying, harassment and overworking was still prevalent with at least 60 per cent of junior doctors working overtime everyday.
MMA president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz said the survey which was run by its Section Concerning House Officers, Medical Officers and Specialists (SCHOMOS) and its Junior Doctor Network (JDN) revealed that Malaysian doctors generally work overtime at least three times a week.
"The survey found that 60 per cent of junior doctors (less than two years working experience) work overtime everyday while only 20 per cent of doctors beyond 2 years experience, work overtime everyday. Another 30 to 40 per cent still work overtime at least 3 times a week.
"As for the frequency of Malaysian doctors working overtime, 35 per cent of doctors work overtime one to two times per week, 32 per cent work overtime three to four times per week, 24 per cent everyday and nine per cent never," she said in a statement.
The survey which ran from Sep 15 to Oct 1 also revealed that about 40 per cent of doctors across all states reported having experienced some form of bullying.
"The survey also found that victims were more likely not to file a complaint out of fear or were unsure how to go about it. Even so, no action was taken when they did.
"A total of 253 cases of bullying was reported in the survey with the highest reported in Sarawak (15), Selangor (nine) and Perak (eight). However 197 were from unknown states. Sabah and Melaka have no confirmed cases of bullying according to the survey.
"Bullying also affects doctors in all ranks with 168 medical officers affected while 50 per cent of house officers and specialists who participated in the survey reported the same," she said.
With regard to bullying, she said these findings may be just the tip of the iceberg as many others might be suffering in silence.
"States with no reports of bullying does not mean there aren't any cases."
A total of 728 Malaysian doctors from the public and private healthcare sector participated in the survey which ran from Sep 1 to Oct 1. Of the total, 476 were medical officers, 207 were specialists/consultants and 46 were house officers.
She said although it seemed that the number of doctors participating in the survey may only be a small percentage of doctors from the entire healthcare system, the findings were significant.
"With the resignation rate among Malaysian contract doctors rising by a staggering 1,131 per cent in the last six years (2017-2022) as reported in the media, it is imperative that the Health Ministry urgently take proactive measures to ensure all necessary improvements in the work culture at all government healthcare facilities," she said.