KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 \u2014 The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) told MPs and ministers today to experience the public health care system without using their privileges to cut the queue.<\/p>\n
The doctors\u2019 group said the impact of an underfunded health care system is already visible, with long waiting times, doctor resignations from public service, and overworked and understaffed teams struggling to meet patients\u2019 high expectations.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly by facing the same queues, delays, and limitations can they truly grasp the struggles endured daily by patients and health care workers,\u201d said MMA president Dr R. Arasu in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf this situation is not addressed in a structured way, the country risks a breakdown of the public health care system, the very system that millions of ordinary Malaysians depend on every day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAround 70 per cent of our population depend on the public health care system for its services.\u201d<\/p>\n
MMA noted that government doctors\u2019 on-call allowance rate of RM9.16 per hour has remained stagnant for more than a decade.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is far below what is fair and reasonable for the long hours, heavy responsibilities, and sacrifices doctors shoulder every day in the service of Malaysians,\u201d said Dr Arasu.<\/p>\n