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I find that perception of healthcare in Malaysia is still very lacking. The 'spin'ful media have faired brilliantly in masking the truth.
Did you know that the working hours of government doctors is against what's enshrined in labor laws around the world? Only in Malaysia does the labor law exempt the medical field from FAIR PLAY and DECENT HUMANLY WORKING HOURS, because of necessity. So necessity justifies abuse of doctors? Why OAs march, and lawyers, but not doctors?
Doctors are not allowed to have unions..
JPA scholars who've studied medicine locally(more so abroad i should assume!) are bonded 7-10 years with the government, at their mercy..You can be denied promotions and pay increments without an option to appeal, and NO one can survive the complex process, or the time they entail..
Even today,a government medical doctor ONLY earns an overtime wage of RM2.08 per hour(passive on calls) and RM6.25 per hour (if active calls-staying in hospital). U mean for the work, responsibility and care we give whole-heartedly, ALL that we deserve are USD 0.69 cents to USD 2.08 per hour?
And is it ever published in any paper/publication how we still work the next day after on calls, meaning some of us work 24-48-72 hours straight..
I have seen doctors get involved in motor vehicular accidents when driving back home after their on calls from a long night and day with less than 1 hour of sleep.. I have seen miscarriages of pregnant doctors who were worked to the brim..doctors sleeping on stretchers as there is no place for them to sleep at night etc etc..sigh..
Its not about the money. These doctors are just asking to be paid for the work they have done, no more, based on acceptable standards worldwide. Is that too much to ask?
I guess when lawyers and other professionals have a 5 year compulsory service with the government and paid the same wages and worked the same hours, maybe only then will THEIR EYES OPEN to what suffering goes on behind the scenes..
Private wings in government hospitals. Another big sigh. The same hospital specialist doing an operation for a private paying patient at 5.01pm using government facilities, but being paid handsomely for it vs. doing the same operation for a poor patient as PART OF HIS ROLE IN THE GOVERNMENT, which does NOT say that care of a government patient ENDS at 5pm does it?
GROSS CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS can be happening in abundance and ultimately, patients suffer. BAD IDEA from the word go..
What about the 'new type' of Clinics? SIGH again. Paying RM1 to be seen by a non-doctor? It's like going to a bank and asking for an overdraft from the bank managers PA? Apples and oranges eh? NOT obvious enough for the people?? And to say it's to prevent GPs from overcharging. What hogwash..GPs work hard and their experience and dedication are beyond such simplification amounting to dollars and cents. How many GPs out there charge so much anyway? We'd happily pay RM 60 for a KFC bucket combo but not RM 40 for a doctors consultation?
I am tired, and i could go on for days regarding issues plaguing the medical field.
I beg all Malaysians to keep an open mind, that a large population of doctors out there, both in gov and in private care very much for patients, BUT have their hands and feet tied so hard that the very thought of speaking out loud or marching on the streets will be met with joblessness, shame and more.
People would say conspiracy hogwash, I say this is reality. There is more. Can you stomach more?
Dear readers, I'm so sorry for rambling on like this. This is a topic close to my heart, and i care dearly. Just wish there was a way to make a change before Armageddon.
-written by a reader-
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Please leave a comment to share your thoughts/views. Thanks! Have a lovely day!
Ting The day will come when there are simply so many doctors that none are adequately trained. There will come a day when a doctor graduating from a medical school cannot even be placed in a houseman position.
And that day is actually very near.
-- Dr Hsu Dar Ren
I can't agree more with Dr Hsu.