Khairy said he would not interfere with the task force and only needed it to provide him a report in two months’ time, as previously agreed.

“I give the task force freedom to do what it sees fit, as it is an independent body.

“The task force has the freedom to question any party in its investigation, and the health ministry and all the agencies under it will provide their full cooperation,” he told reporters after officiating the World Asthma Day 2022 event.

He said the task force had the liberty to meet any houseman or medical officer to obtain information.

Last week, Khairy announced the establishment of the Healthcare Work Culture Improvement Task Force (HWCITF) to investigate the death of a junior doctor at Penang Hospital and the bullying culture at government hospitals.

The group was also tasked with analysing and evaluating the work culture and human resource management in the healthcare sector in general.

There had been calls from the opposition and health groups to include junior doctors in the task force, but Khairy had claimed that the exclusion of a representative was to ensure no “prejudice” occurred in the investigation.