According to Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Azizan Abdul Aziz, the reassignment of nurses from clinics to wards is a positive step to address the shortage of staff at public healthcare facilities. Dr Azizan believes that this reassignment could potentially reduce the workload, particularly in hospital wards that have been affected by uneven distribution of healthcare workers.
The MMA commended the Health Minister and Health director-general for their efforts and encouraged continued commitment to reshaping the healthcare workforce distribution in addressing the healthcare needs of the population. Dr Azizan also emphasized the importance of promptly filling the vacant positions resulting from the reassignments to prevent any disruptions to services, along with an emphasis on training for the new roles.
Additionally, Dr Azizan highlighted the importance of digitalizing the public healthcare system in light of the shortages in healthcare personnel. She expressed the belief that data-driven decisions and real-time monitoring will be crucial for effective workforce placement.
The Health Ministry responded to a report by health portal CodeBlue regarding plans to relocate “100%” of nurses from specialist clinics to wards. The ministry emphasized that staff would be trained accordingly before being assigned specific clinical tasks and procedures to ensure the best quality of nursing care. The ministry also stated that it would re-strategize the placement of human resources across the ministry to prioritize the well-being of nurses and maintain quality patient care.
The strategic mobilization and placement of healthcare workforce, including nurses and medical assistants, are meticulously planned and executed by the ministry without compromising clinical services and the safety of patients. The ministry emphasized its commitment to improving healthcare services across the country and expressed its dedication to comprehensive improvements in the healthcare sector with the passing of the Health White Paper.
