JOHOR BAHRU, April 3 — There were no rallies or demonstrations detected at public health facilities in the state, following the recent announcement by a group of contract doctors to go on strike from today to Wednesday (April 5).
State Health and Unity Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said monitoring at government health facilities since this morning found that patient care services at health clinics and hospitals, and all scheduled elective procedures, were running smoothly as usual.
According to him, there is no unusual congestion in the state’s public health facilities, and the number of medical officers who are absent from duty or on vacation is also under control.
“Continuous monitoring is carried out by all heads of responsibility centres to ensure that the delivery of health services to patients, whether in clinics or hospitals in the state, runs smoothly.
“All problems must have a solution, but going on strike is not the answer.
“I would like to thank the contract doctors in Johor for not getting involved in the planned strike for three days, and continuing to offer the best service to all patients,” he said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, he said as a representative of the state government, he is open to hearing the complaints of contract doctors so that he can convey the wishes of the group to the ministry, even though the matter is not under the purview of the state government.
Tian Soon also proposed that the Cabinet establish a high-level committee, combining several ministries and agencies, including the Chief Secretary to the Government, to address the issue.
Recently, reports that contract doctors were planning to go on strike for three days nationwide, starting today, as a result of being frustrated with the country’s healthcare system, went viral on social media.
This group of contract doctors also reportedly did not budge from their decision to continue the strike, despite being advised by the Ministry of Health not to do so.
