Social Insurance Protection for Healthcare Workers: Embracing a New Norm and a Way Forward

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Harlida Abdul Wahab, Asmar Abdul Rahim, Nor Anita Abdullah

Abstract

The hit of COVID-19 worldwide has given impacts on the healthcare services and their workers. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed to a complex health and safety hazards while delivering care and services to the sick and infected. The interruption of the healthcare service and their workers will definitely endanger life, health and safety of the citizens. HCWs’ position is worsened considering the severe and high risk of the coronavirus disease may cause. They risk their lives while ensuring the continuity of public health and safety. There is a high possibility of HCWs being infected or even facing death due to COVID-19 infection while on duty. They even fear and distress more thinking if they have caused the family members infected by the disease. In such cases, what is the social protection measure available to safeguard the HCWs? Is there any social insurance protection provided to them especially during this time of pandemic? This paper aims to theoretically examine the social protection law and policy in Malaysia, particularly in safeguarding the HCWs during the pandemic of COVID-19. Applying doctrinal legal research with a content analysis approach, secondary sources such as article journals and government initiatives are analysed together with the related policy and law. This study anticipates comprehensive social insurance protection as a means to support and safeguard the frontline HCWs for the sustainability of the health care industry.

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How to Cite
Asmar Abdul Rahim, Nor Anita Abdullah, H. A. W. . (2022). Social Insurance Protection for Healthcare Workers: Embracing a New Norm and a Way Forward. BiLD Law Journal, 7(1), 65–73. Retrieved from https://bildbd.com/index.php/blj/article/view/153
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Articles