Healthcare frontliners claimed they are understaffed, overworked, and underpaid while working in overcrowded hospitals with compromised patient care, according to an anonymous online survey.

The survey was conducted by Projek Wawasan Rakyat (POWR) and Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) last week, and its findings unveiled in a webinar last night.

According to the group, 30 frontliners stationed at healthcare facilities in Sungai Buloh, Kuala Lumpur, Ampang, Kajang, Melaka, Jasin, Pahang and Sabah took part in the survey. They are mainly doctors, medical officers, specialists, pharmacists, dental officers, emergency room staff and IT staff.

Twenty-five of the frontliners said they were overwhelmed.

"Need more help, more doctors, please! Overworked, one medical officer taking care of one ward of 20 to 30 patients, little help from the nurses, unstable patients kept in unsuitable ward conditions, uncooperative patients who refuse treatment etc, especially VIP patients," a medical officer who responded to the survey said...