‘ALLEGATIONS OF LONG WORKING HOURS TO BE PROBED’
Health Ministry to get more information on housemen at govt hospitals, says minister
THE Health Ministry will look into complaints that housemen at government hospitals are being made to work up to 80 hours a week.
Its minister, Datuk Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, said he had instructed the deputy health director-general (medical) Datuk Dr Azman Abu Bakar to get more information on the matter.
“I am getting more information about this,” he said at the launch of Removing Obstacles to Cervical Screening , an innovation by Universiti Malaya and VCS Foundation of Australia yesterday.
The launch was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. Present were Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh, Universiti Malaya pro-chancellor Toh Puan Dr Aishah Ong and Universiti Malaya Faculty of Medicine dean Professor Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman.
Dr Dzulkefly was asked to comment on a news report that housemen at government hospitals were being made to work long hours, despite the implementation of a new shift system some time ago.
He said the matter would be addressed accordingly. On the suggestion to further expand the smoking ban to workplaces and closed areas in offices, specifically toilets, Dr Dzulkefly said the ministry was open to the suggestion.
“We are open for discussion on the matter.”
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, on Sunday, proposed the move as he said smoking in toilets could affect other people’s health.