During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers have been working tirelessly on the frontlines, caring for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. This sustained commitment has inevitably placed them—particularly frontline staff—at increased risk of infection. In Malaysia, the ongoing outbreak has underscored the significant physical and psychological pressures faced by the healthcare workforce.
While much attention has rightly been given to those delivering direct patient care, less visible are the teams working behind the scenes to safeguard the health and safety of these workers. At the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), one of the key non–Ministry of Health facilities managing COVID-19 patients, this responsibility is undertaken by the Occupational Safety, Health and Environment (OSHE) Unit and the Public Health Department (PHD).
Throughout the pandemic, both OSHE and PHD have played critical roles in developing and implementing infection prevention and control measures, conducting risk assessments, ensuring appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and supporting workforce health surveillance. Their coordinated efforts have been essential in maintaining a safe working environment while sustaining healthcare delivery during a period of unprecedented demand.
In a recent opinion piece published in My Sin Chew and The Sun Daily, we highlighted the functions and contributions of OSHE and PHD in managing occupational health risks during the pandemic. This perspective aims to recognise the importance of these often-unseen efforts and to emphasise the need for sustained investment in occupational health systems as part of pandemic preparedness and response.
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