SUNGAI BULOH: The orthopaedic head of department (HoD) implicated in sexual
harassment accusations in a Klang Valley hospital has been suspended for two
months.
Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad confirmed this at a press conference in
a Klang Valley hospital on Tuesday (Sept 18).
Following a two-hour, closed-door meeting with medical officers and
specialists at the orthopaedic department in the hospital, Dr Dzulkefly said
the move was to allow for investigations to take place.
He said the Health Ministry had received a reply from the Public Service
Commission that the HoD's suspension was effective Monday (Sept 17).
image: https://content.thestar.com.my/smg/settag/name=lotame/tags=
In response to the article, Dr Dzulkefly asked victims to e-mail him the
details of their claims directly, and a committee comprising representatives
from both the Health and the Women, Family and Community Development ministries
was set up to look into the matter.
On Sept 11, the HoD was reported to have taken medical leave until Sept 18
and the Health Ministry was said to be working to have the HoD suspended and
transferred out of the hospital.
The Malaysian Medical Council is also working on getting his medical
licence revoked, he said.
"There are also no transfers in the near future," he said, adding
that he would try to reduce the 'collateral damage' from the case.
He said he was referring to rumours that an en masse transfer would take
place among specialists in the hospital.
On Sept 10, The Star carried
a front page report about specialists who said that they had received telephone
calls from an official that all the staff in the orthopaedic department would
be transferred.
Going for the kill
SUNGAI BULOH: A recommendation has been put in to revoke the medical
licence of the Sungai Buloh Hospital specialist implicated in sexual harassment
accusations, said Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The orthopaedic head of department (HoD) has been suspended by the Public
Service Commission for two months effective Sept 17, added the minister.
“This would enable further investigations to be carried out by the relevant
authorities,” he said in a press conference yesterday after a two-hour
closed-door meeting with the hospital’s medical officers and specialists at the
orthopaedic department.
Dr Dzulkefly said the decision on the suspension was based on the Health
Ministry’s recommendation to the commission which was forwarded by the
ministry’s secretary-general last week.
Dr Dzulkefly said that the accused started work as the HoD when the
hospital was established in 2009.
In July, The Star carried an exclusive report in which
house officers alleged that they were bullied and sexually harassed by the HoD.
In response to the article, Dr Dzulkefly asked victims to directly e-mail
him the details of their claims, and a committee comprising representatives
from both the Health and the Women, Family and Community Development ministries
was set up to look into the matter.
Dr Dzulkefly also said that the Malaysian Medical Council is working on
getting his medical practice licence revoked.
He assured those doctors affected that he would reduce the “collateral
damage” from the case and that there would be no transfers as of now.
“I understand that the doctors are anxious and I have assured them that we
will do our level best to restore a good and viable running department,” he
said.
On Sept 10, The Star carried a front page report about
specialists who said that they had received telephone calls from an official that
all the staff in the orthopaedic department would be transferred but Dr
Dzulkefly had refuted the claim.
He also said that each of the cases will be evaluated fairly and justly and
action will be taken against those responsible.
“It will not be a blanket decision. We will minimise the collateral
damage,” he said, adding that the ministry will carry out remedial measures in
the best interest of the department.
As for the other measures, Dr Dzulkefly said that they will be disclosed
soon.
He said that 31 meetings had been held and 38 witnesses have stepped
forward to testify on the sexual harassment.
Asked if the hospital was aware of the complaints before they were
highlighted by The Star, Dr Dzulkefly said that there were
complaints in the past but they were not handled swiftly.
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