{
  "id": 12348910,
  "title": "Health Ministry mulls study on family breakdowns linked to doctors' postings",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/health-ministry-mulls-study-on-family-breakdowns-linked-to-doctors",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-06T09:05:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1549102/health-ministry-mulls-study-family-breakdowns-linked-doctors-postings"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Health Ministry in Malaysia is contemplating an investigation into potential links between long-distance medical postings and family disruptions among doctors. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad stated that the Ministry currently does not possess pertinent data concerning divorces or other familial issues experienced by medical officers stationed far from their spouses and children. During a Special Chamber session in the Dewan Rakyat, he emphasized the necessity of conducting a baseline study to assess the extent to which these professionals' families are impacted by prolonged separation owing to their duties, responsibilities, and careers. Responding to V. Ganabatirau (PH-Klang), who raised concerns about bullying, postings, transfers, welfare, and the brain drain among medical officers, Dzulkefly explained that posting decisions are determined by departmental needs and vacancies, taking into consideration qualifications, competency, experience, service duration, distance from the workplace, dependents, and health conditions of officers or their family members. Approximately 74% of posting applications have been successfully accommodated, while the remainder could not be fulfilled due to factors such as the scarcity of vacancies. Regarding transfers, there is no predetermined waiting period, as decisions hinge on factors such as application dates, cycle deadlines, committee meetings, and service requirements, with transfer exercises conducted at least four times annually. The Ministry also offers a mutual transfer system (P3S), which has successfully matched 118 pairs of nurses, alongside eight cases involving service requirements and 18 instances in the pharmacy service. In addressing workplace bullying and toxic culture, the Ministry launched guidelines for managing workplace bullying for its personnel on August 21, 2025, covering reporting, prevention, and intervention procedures. From October 1, 2022, to September 28 of this year, 730 complaints were recorded through the system, with four substantiated complaints and 726 involving various issues, including services, operations, transfers, and communication. Dzulkefly assured that whistleblowers will be shielded from any repercussions by their superiors, emphasizing that as the minister, he will not compromise on this matter and wants to ensure their protection.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry is considering a baseline study to determine whether long-distance postings are contributing to family breakdowns among medical officers.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}