Protection for Healthcare Workers who Complain about Abuse under Tripartite Framework

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Health how does the Tripartite Framework for the Prevention of Abuse and Harassment in Healthcare protect workers who complain about abuse or harassment from adverse consequences such as reprisals.

The Tripartite Framework for the Prevention of Abuse and Harassment in Healthcare recommends that every public healthcare institution set up a staff protection function to review reported abuse and harassment incidents and help ensure the well-being of the staff involved, such as the provision of mental health support.

To protect the healthcare worker, additional measures may be taken to discontinue exposure to the abuser and possible reprisals in the course of their work. Staff may be provided time-off and re-assigned to other duties temporarily. Public healthcare institutions may also take action against those who continue to display abusive behaviour toward healthcare workers. These include warnings, discharging abusive patients who do not require urgent care and temporarily barring abusive next-of-kin and visitors from the premises of the healthcare institution.

Public healthcare institutions will also assist healthcare workers in making a Police report, if necessary.