HEALTH Minister Khairy Jamaludin announced the formation of task force called Healthcare Work Culture Improvements Task Force (HWCITF) to investigate work culture that contributes to the instances of bullying of junior doctors and others.  

The task force would not have been established if not for the death of a houseman attached to the Penang General Hospital. 

Two years ago, there was another death involving a trainee doctor. There was hue and cry not just about the deaths of housemen but also about the work culture in public hospitals.  

It was in this context there was full media coverage done on the bullying culture contributing to mental stress among housemen. Senior doctors, authorities in hospitals and the Health Ministry (MOH) were lambasted for not taking the matter seriously.  

It was the media coverage that resulted in the formation of the task force headed by a former civil servant with eight other members. However, MOH has not given a full appraisal why these persons were chosen and not others.  

Nevertheless, the task force has been given two months to complete its investigation on the work culture in hospitals, particularly the incident in Penang where the houseman took his own life.  

And it was not the case of the nonsensical “sudden death” term often used by the police. While the formation of the task force with its lengthy abbreviation is welcome, something better is definitely better than nothing.  

However, there are obvious problems that might detract the task force from performing its entrusted duty. There are nine reasons as to why the task face described as “independent” might not be that independent after all.  

First, the task force composition does not give the impression that its members are going to be independent of the interests and biases of the Government. The very fact that they were chosen and not others might question their independence.  

The head of the task force herself is a former civil servant, Prof Datuk Siti Hamisah Tapsir. She might have the expertise working many years for the Government but will she steer the task force on a more objective path regardless of its impact on the Government?  

Second, the nature of representation is another drawback. There is no representation from the NGOs and representatives of trainee doctors themselves or organisations that seek to represent them.  

Why this was not factored in the selection process remains a mystery, although there is still time to change things.    

Thirdly, is it strange that all these years the MOH and public hospitals have been oblivious to the pervasive culture of bullying and humiliation.  Although it is acknowledged that the bullying culture was known to the authorities, it was allowed to fester with disastrous consequences.  

Prove me wrong, KJ  

My question is: how come the heath authorities were unaware of this vicious culture to the extent the media had to highlight it?  Didn’t the heath authorities have the benefit of procedures and mechanisms in place to launch their own internal investigation? Why wait for the media?  

Fourth, the mention of “task force” conjures an imagination that such an initiative might dissipate at a particular juncture.  I am not saying that the task force on bullying is sure to fail, but the past initiatives in setting up similar committees seemed to have failed miserably.  

There is no guarantee that the present task force on bullying is going to emerge with resounding success, but an opportunity must given, nonetheless. 

Fifth, MOH cannot task the present committee with a set of guidelines to be fulfilled and yet call the members as having independence and objectivity.   

Sixth, the task force gives an impression that it is more an internal investigation committee rather than one established to make its findings public in the larger interests of the nation. What guarantee do we have that their findings would be made public?  

Seventh, it is well and good to set up a task force to investigate the nature of work culture in hospitals but would punishment meted out on a few doctors will end this deeply embedded culture?  

Eight, I frankly believe that the present task force, given its composition and objective, might not be able to investigate and recommend actions that will end bullying culture once and for all.  

The task force might engage in fire-fighting but might not put out the “fire” permanently in public hospitals.  So, I hope it not a mere public relations exercise by the Government. 

Nineth, the problem with the task force is that I believe the Government is not serious about solving the problem. Even the most competent and knowledgeable task force might not be able to address the problem if there is no political will.  

I hope I am wrong but everyone knows that there is a deficit of political will with the present backdoor government to do the needful for our public hospitals. 

After all, who is Khairy, but a back door minister himself. – May 15, 2022

https://focusmalaysia.my/bullying-in-hospitals-task-force-is-good-but-political-will-to-resolve-it-vital-too/