Malaysia's Healthcare System Under Strain: COVID-19 Exposes Mental Health Crisis Among HCWs
Published on 6.10.25
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the deep-seated issues within Malaysia's healthcare system, particularly in regards to the mental health of its workers. The country's maternal mortality rate of 68.2 per 100,000 live births in 2021 was a stark reminder of the strain on the system.
In Malaysia, the lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) led to widespread shortages, forcing healthcare workers (HCW) to make their own PPE or reuse single-use items. The mental health of HCWs also took a significant toll during the pandemic. Anxiety, depression, and burnout became common among them, highlighting the urgent need for better support systems.
Dr. Siti Fatimah, a healthcare worker at a major hospital in Kuala Lumpur, reported that many colleagues struggled to cope with the emotional demands of their work. "We were expected to be superheroes, but we're human beings too," she said.
The government's lack of support for HCWs during this time has been widely criticized, leaving many questions unanswered about how to mitigate health inequalities and provide better support for those affected. As a result, addressing the mental health crisis among healthcare workers must be a top priority in Malaysia's healthcare system.