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KUALA LUMPUR – The Health Ministry has introduced short-stay wards in hospitals that have excess space to solve overcrowding in emergency departments, said minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
She said the initiative has been implemented in several ministry hospitals and it was proposed that the ward criteria be improved to reduce waiting times, especially for patients in the yellow zone.
Patient bed management would be streamlined so that bed occupancy could be regulated and better managed, she added.
“The increasing number of patients and the shortages faced by the ministry – including in terms of manpower and facilities – have worsened the issue of overcrowding in emergency departments. This must be addressed comprehensively.
“Short-, medium-, and long-term solutions must be drawn up immediately together with all stakeholders, for the sake of the people and the national health sector,” she said in a statement today.
In addition, she said the ministry would continue to examine the collaboration models with government agencies, state governments, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector so that overcrowding at emergency departments could be dealt with effectively.
She said outsourcing and collaboration with the private sector had helped immensely during the Covid-19 pandemic and that such collaboration models would be further looked into, including working with private general practitioners.
“The digitisation of the health service system also needs to be emphasised. The ministry will continue to upgrade the existing IT system to a digital system that has the potential to help overcome existing problems,” she said.
Dr Zaliha said efforts to increase manpower would continue, including for doctors, nurses, assistant medical officers, pharmacists, allied health professionals, support staff, and others.
The ministry will also work with the Public Service Department and the Finance Ministry to resolve the issue in the medium- and long-term. – Bernama, January 22, 2023