A safe drive for our healthcare workers
DOCTORS, nurses and other healthcare workers often save lives, but when they work long, gruelling hours, they themselves as well as their patients may be put in harm’s way.
This is a longstanding concern, particularly with junior doctors in hospitals. Although the matter is publicly debated every now and then, many people regard the housemen’s tough working conditions as both a process of tempering and a trial by fire.
The perception is that only those who can endure the hardship and pressure have what it takes to be doctors. In fact, some people believe that the doctors will be ready to be good professionals after going through such an experience.
However, recent developments have thrown this notion into sharp relief.
It began on May 9, when Dr Nurul Huda Ahmad, a paediatrician in training, was killed in a motor vehicle accident in Kuala Terengganu. It was reported that she was driving after she had been on duty at a Kota Baru hospital for nearly 33 hours.
A few days later, several medical associations responded with a joint statement. In it, the associations also referred to a 2015 crash that took the life of Dr Afifah Mohd Ghazi, who was driving home from the Sungai Buloh Hospital.
Arguing that fatigue and sleep deprivation is “a recognisable and preventable factor in motor-vehicle accidents”, the associations called for action to prevent the deaths of healthcare professionals.
They suggested five measures that should be implemented by the Health Ministry and the relevant stakeholders.
On May 25, nine medical associations met with the Health Ministry’s Medical Development Division, Selangor Road Transport Department, Road Safety Department and Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research.
According to the subsequent joint press statement, it was concluded in the meeting that motor vehicle accidents among healthcare workers on the way to and from work should be acknowledged as “an increasing and occasionally fatal problem”.
The associations and the government agencies agreed that there should be a collective effort to prevent more deaths of doctors or other health workers.
This effort includes a multi-agency study to come up with evidence of correlation between the working hours of doctors and motor vehicle accidents. The aim is to form the basis for a revision of current laws and regulations on safe working hours for doctors.
Another proposed initiative is a campaign to raise awareness about driving safety among medical personnel.
We want our doctors to be competent and experienced. At the same time, we want them to be safe and in good shape to practise medicine. Nobody’s life should be put at risk because a healthcare professional is fatigued due to unhealthy work hours.
Unfortunate circumstances led to the medical associations and government agencies coming together to address the issue of fatigue-related crashes involving healthcare workers. Hopefully, there will be no more need for such deadly and tragic reminders.