Provide quality care, housemen told

Star: PUTRAJAYA: Medical graduates doing their housemanship are being accused of treating patients without care, lacking in dedication and commitment, and taking unapproved leave of up to 15 days.
Due to such complaints, every year, about 5% of the 1,400 housemen do not qualify to become medical officers and have had to extend their training by six months to a year.
Stressing that the quality of Malaysian doctors have to improve to be on par with international standards, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said there were cases of foreign doctors applying for jobs outside their countries being given nursing posts instead.
He stressed that he did not want the same thing to happen to local doctors.
“We want to see those from local universities having high quality and with the necessary soft skills, having commitment and willing to work as a team,” he said, adding that housemen must be prepared to work on call for 36 hours at a stretch.
“Doctors have to look into the welfare of patients before their own comfort. If not, they are not being fair to the patient.
“If you cannot work, don't be a doctor, look for another job.”
Dr Chua said in 10 years’ time, the number of housemen would increase to 2,400.
He said this after a dialogue session with over 400 final-year medical students from Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and Universiti Putra Malaysia at the ministry here yesterday.
Two students from UM who will be posted to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre for their housemanship, Fadzly Ramidi and How Soon Ping, both 24, said they were fully aware of their obligations to put in long hours during their internship.
Fadzly said they were trained to work long hours even during their final year in college.