In recent weeks, a surge of reports detailing the abuse and mistreatment of house officers in Malaysian hospitals, particularly in Perak and Sabah, has brought a long-simmering crisis to the fore- front . While these cases have garnered recent attention, the systemic issues plaguing housemanship are widespread across the nation. House officers, the backbone of our healthcare system, are routinely exploited, treated as cheap labor, and denied their fundamental rights to proper training and a respectful work environment.

Instead of receiving the comprehensive training necessary to become skilled doctors, house officers are often relegated to performing menial tasks, enduring excessive workloads, and suffering verbal abuse. Hospitals like Ipoh General Hospital subject house officers to grueling double and triple night shifts(2 shifts in the same day, denying them replacement leave for public holidays – a privilege afforded to specialists and medical officers. Furthermore, senior doctors often delegate their responsibilities, such as completing operating theatre lists, to already overburdened house officers, with the threat of disciplinary action hanging over their heads. Unfair performance evaluations (LMPT) and extended contracts are used as tools for punishment, particularly when house officers dare to voice concerns. Burnout, neglect, and demotivation are rampant.

While some senior doctors may claim these conditions are nothing new, the reality is that the system has drastically worsened. Previously, housemanship lasted one year without the fear of contract termination. Now, house officers face two years of relentless abuse under the Damocles sword of contract employment, leaving them vulnerable and afraid to speak out.

Our Request: A Path Towards a Sustainable Future for Housemanship

We, a collective of house officers from diverse backgrounds across Malaysia, implore the government to intervene and implement the following critical reforms:

1. Standardized Guidelines for Tasks and Training: The outdated 2012 guidelines are inconsistently applied, leading to widespread abuse. We request updated, comprehensive, and uniformly enforced guidelines across all hospitals, clearly defining tasks and training modules for house officers in accordance to the employment act. Clear regulations regarding extensions and explanation letters are also crucial to prevent their misuse as punitive measures.

2. Fair and Reasonable Working Hours: House officers are in a training period, not a source of cheap labor. We request standardized, reasonable working hours across Malaysia, ensuring adequate rest and opportunities for learning as per the employment act.

3. Equitable Public Holiday Allocation: It is unjustifiable that specialists and medical officers receive public holiday leave while house officers are denied this basic right. While we acknowledge the vital role of specialists and medical officers, the healthcare system cannot function without house officers. Denying us this entitlement demonstrates a fundamental disregard for our well-being and undermines our training.

4. Annual Rotation of Specialists and Medical Officers in Charge: This measure will prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a few individuals, reducing the potential for abuse and bias.

5. Independent House Officer Committees: Each hospital must establish a house officer committee, chaired by house officers, to address complaints and concerns. We have lost faith in existing channels like SISPAA, which have often proven ineffective and even led to retaliation against those who speak out.

6. Transparent Investigations into Bullying: We demand open and transparent investigations into all reported cases of house officer bullying. The current lack of publicly available information fuels suspicion of cover-ups and perpetuates a culture of impunity.

7. Explanation for Delayed Guideline Updates: The Ministry of Health (KKM) must provide a clear and public explanation for the lack of updates to the house officer guidelines since 2012 and provide a public explanation on the current guideline.

8. Accountability for Abuse in Sabah and Ipoh: In the Sabah case, we demand a formal apology to the affected house officers from the hospital and the medical officers involved. Furthermore, we call for a revamp of HR staff and the transfer/resignation of senior HR staff as these issues show wide spread failure of HR management in protecting and ensuring the welfare of houseman, demonstrating a commitment to protecting staff rights. The same measures are required in Ipoh, including the transfer or resignation of senior HR staff and management, and the retraining of HR staff, due to their failure to protect staff and the resulting loss of confidence.

9. Abolish the Contract System: The contract system, initially implemented to manage an influx of house officers, is now cited as justification for staff shortages, excessive workloads, and the denial of leave. This system has created a climate of fear and vulnerability, preventing house officers from advocating for their rights. We urge the government to abolish the contract system and transition to a permanent employment model.

 

A Call to Action

We, the undersigned, implore the government and the Prime Minister to hear our pleas. We have lost faith in KKM to address these issues effectively. We believe in the government's ability to enact meaningful change.

To all house officers who yearn for a better future: This is your chance to make a difference.

This petition may not address every single issue, but it is a crucial first step towards reforming housemanship in Malaysia. Join us in demanding respect, fair treatment, and proper training. 

Sign this petition and be a part of the movement for a more just and sustainable healthcare

system