The tragic death of Dr. Tay Tien Yaa, head of the Chemical Pathology Unit at Lahad Datu Hospital, has sparked a surge of reports about workplace bullying among healthcare workers, flooding the internet with commentary.
One poignant remark—"Even Grade 52 can be bullied, what about the juniors?"—highlights the pervasive nature of this issue.
As workplace bullying within the healthcare system gains attention, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged affected doctors to report incidents through platforms such as SISPAA (Sistem Pengurusan Aduan Awam), the Ministry of Health's MyHelp portal, MMA’s HelpDoc, or by filing police reports. Yet, the question remains: why are more complaints being shared on social media than through these formal channels?
Dr. Azizan Abdul Aziz, former MMA president, suggested that poison pen letters and social media posts from doctors reveal a lack of trust in the system. Even months after Dr. Tay’s passing, a group of doctors from a Sabah public hospital reported a clear-cut case of bullying involving specialists and medical officers via the MMA’s HelpDoc channel.
Despite assurances from the Ministry of Health that these incidents are under investigation, no effective measures have been implemented to prevent further occurrences.
As a future healthcare professional, I’ve observed that the younger generation increasingly turns to social media to highlight issues like workplace bullying. Posts on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram gain widespread attention quickly, putting significant pressure on authorities to take concrete action instead of issuing vague responses with no tangible outcomes.
In today’s society, the media individuals consume greatly influences their beliefs, opinions, and actions, especially on issues tied to altruism. Research consistently demonstrates that repeated exposure shapes public perceptions. Authorities, particularly in the healthcare sector, cannot afford the reputational risk of a negative public image, as healthcare forms the backbone of a healthy society.
Additionally, statistics reveal that 1 in 5 individuals now bypass search engines entirely, opting to access websites via social media. As a medical student, I often turn to social media accounts run by fellow students and physicians. These platforms provide an unfiltered glimpse into the realities of healthcare, unlike the curated narratives often found on official websites or search engines.
Despite repeated calls for action, progress remains slow. On March 20, 2024, Dr. Azizan urged the Ministry of Health to leverage the MMA’s Rights and Responsibilities of Government Doctors Seminar scheduled for April 20, 2024, in Melaka.
Yet, as of September 17, 2024—five months later—no concrete results have been produced.
The current MMA president, Datuk Dr. Kalwinder Singh Khaira, has since stated, “We respectfully ask the public to refrain from speculation and allow due process to take its course.”
Had the younger generation not brought these issues to light through social media, would there even be updates on the investigation?
Meanwhile, victims of workplace bullying continue to suffer in silence as delays persist.
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