Buck up, healthcare sector told

NST: PETALING JAYA: Eroding clinical skills among healthcare professionals, inept surgical skills and unwarranted deaths has the director-general of Health unhappy. Datuk Dr Ismail Merican also lamented their poor command of English.
"Like it or not, we have to have a certain level of command of the language. As they say, one rotten apple will spoil the whole barrel," he said.
There were "many challenges" facing the healthcare sector but he was most concerned with the quality of doctors and allied health personnel.
Speaking to 300 delegates at the first National Conference on Hospital and Health Services Management, Dr Ismail played the role of a motivator instead of criticising them.
Delivering the keynote address, "Towards Excellence — The Need for K-Managers in Hospital and Health Service Management" he said when it came to complaints, most could be nipped in the bud.
"Don’t take the attitude that we can never be wrong," said Dr Ismail, also president of the Malaysian Medical Council.
A recent audit revealed that there were "white elephants" in many hospitals — equipment that had been lying around for five or six years.
Hospital directors, he said, must ensure that equipment was fully utilised.
"These are not criticisms. These are challenges and observations ... these were told to us by the minister himself."
Dr Ismail also touched on personal grooming and interpersonal skills, adding that these "small things made a difference".
He said hospital directors should keep up with the latest in their respective fields as the educated public demanded more from the healthcare sector.