Kota Kinabalu: Bandau Assemblyman Datuk Wetrom Bahanda regretted that a refrigerator where bodies were stored at Kota Marudu Hospital has been damaged for about two years, causing trouble to families of the deceased.
He said this caused bodies to be transported to Pitas and Kudat, which would not have happened if relevant authorities, especially the Ministry of Health (KKM), had addressed the problem seriously and immediately.
“It has caused trouble and difficulties to families of the deceased. All because there was no effort to upgrade the existing facility for such a long time.
“We are asking the Ministry to upgrade the facilities at Kota Marudu Hospital in order to save lives and looking after the health of the growing local population,” said the new Kota Marudu MP when debating the 2023 State Budget, Tuesday.
The Ministry must look into upgrading the old hospital building as well as medical equipment for patients’ use such as oxygen supplies to save lives immediately.
He alleged one accident victim rushed to the hospital died because oxygen was only available 40 minutes later.
“If there was oxygen given earlier, maybe the victim could have been saved,” he said.
Wetrom said specialist doctors should also be stationed at the hospital besides an ambulance.
“We in Kota Marudu do not have specialist doctors. There are only doctors who are new or still practising.
“The same goes for ambulance vehicles. Imagine if there is an emergency and it is necessary to send patients to Kota Kinabalu,” he said.
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