Transparency, action keys to building trust in tackling workplace bullying in public healthcare sector '

New Straits Times

5 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Confidential complaint channels and support systems for victims are crucial in addressing workplace bullying in the public healthcare sector, says Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy.
Its chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib said these mechanisms must be supported with regular reporting of incidents, actions taken and remedial measures — potentially through online dashboards — to ensure transparency and accountability.
"It sends a right and positive signal that allegations of workplace bullying and related issues will be taken seriously.
"This move provides a framework for such complaints to be properly handled and places accountability on supervisors and the Health Ministry's leadership," he told the New Straits Times.
Azrul was commenting on Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad's statement that a secure complaint channel and psychosocial support are among the key features of the ministry's upcoming workplace bullying guidelines, scheduled for launch this October.
The guidelines, which will apply to all Health Ministry personnel, outline structured measures to prevent, report, and manage bullying incidents across the ministry.
He said the guidelines will include designated reporting channels that ensure confidentiality and protection for complainants.
Currently, bullying cases can be reported through the MyHELP portal, which was launched on Oct 1, 2022.
Reports submitted online must be investigated within 15 working days, depending on whether the case is classified as standard or complex.
Azrul said that while the proposed confidential complaint channels and psychosocial support mechanisms were a step in the right direction, their success would depend on implementation and trust in the system.
"The key factor is to ensure confidentiality is protected and that these mechanisms function effectively. It must work through decades of institutional inertia and distrust of bureaucracy," he said.
To ensure the guidelines are enforced effectively nationwide, he said leadership must set the tone — from the minister down to heads of divisions, state health directors and frontliners at hospitals and clinics.
"There must be training and briefings to show that these guidelines are being taken seriously. Leaders must lead by example to build trust in the system," he said.