When it's healthy to show more care

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: There is a perception that medical staff, including doctors and nurses, are not caring enough. This was revealed in a survey done by the Health Ministry recently.
However, the same survey showed that medical staff did not compromise on professionalism and team work.
The survey also showed that waiting time to see doctors or to have surgeries done had improved, with hospitals and health clinics extending working hours and even working on Saturdays.
The survey was done at all hospitals and government health clinics to evaluate staff performance. A previous survey was conducted in 2004.
Realising the need to change this perception, the Health Ministry has relaunched its corporate culture campaign -- which emphasises a caring attitude, professionalism and teamwork.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the perception that medical staff were not caring enough needed to be rectified by inculcating in all 145,000 staff the importance of showing genuine care for patients.
"It's not that our staff do not care. It's just that they do not care enough. Care, affection and a smile can have a healing effect on patients."
With its motto "Kami sedia membantu" (We are ready to help), the campaign is part of a move to ensure that health services reach the people in an atmosphere of professionalism, team work and an attitude of genuine caring.
Liow said ministry staff needed to be reminded about incorporating the corporate culture into their daily work and that the attitude of caring for patients must come from the heart.
All staff will wear a badge with a logo of a hand on the heart, with the words "Kami sedia membantu".
Liow said the badge was to remind staff that they were committed to serving their customers responsibly and professionally.