MMA: Conduct shift system pilot project first

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged the Health Ministry to conduct a six-month pilot project first before implementing the shift system in public healthcare.

MMA president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz said a pilot project would comprehensively assess the long-term implications of the proposed shift system on the healthcare system.

“If the government plans to go ahead with implementing a shift system for public healthcare doctors, it should only be implemented in facilities with a sufficient number of healthcare workers,” she said in a statement yesterday.

Dr Azizan said such a system would only be effective in facilities with sufficient manpower as some centres may need two to three times as many doctors, necessitating a thorough analysis of the distribution of the public healthcare workforce to address the prevailing issue of maldistribution.

She stressed the need to ensure future specialists are wellequipped and competent in shouldering the heavy burden of patient care and safety.

Regarding remuneration, the MMA asserted that income from allowances must not be affected.

Dr Azizan warned that removing the on-call allowance for medical officers could result in a 20% pay cut or more, impacting junior doctors already grappling with the rising cost of living.

The MMA, therefore, proposed a flexi allowance of at least RM1,500 for medical officers to mitigate financial implications and curb the trend of resignations among doctors in public healthcare.

Last month, the MMA called on the government to adopt a threeshift system daily along with the introduction of a flexi allowance, to prevent burnout among doctors and further brain drain.

It said the government could emulate the European Working Time Directive, where doctors typically work an average of 48 hours a week.