A visit to a Malaysian clinic has sparked discussion online after a Rohingya parent allegedly refused to pay RM50 for their feverish child’s treatment.
According to a clinic staff member who shared the encounter on Threads, the parent said they did not have money and asked whether showing a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees card would allow them to receive treatment for free.
However, the way the staff member claimed to have responded also drew criticism, with many netizens saying the matter could have been handled more professionally.
Brought feverish child to clinic
In the Threads post, the staff member claimed that the Rohingya parent arrived at the clinic with a child who had a fever.
While registering, the parent reportedly presented a UNHCR card instead of a Malaysian identity card.
The staff member said the clinic then requested a payment of RM50 as the parent was not a Malaysian citizen.
However, the parent allegedly said they did not have money and asked whether the UNHCR card entitled them to free treatment.
The staff member said Malaysians also have to pay registration fees of RM1 or RM5 and rejected the request for free treatment using a vulgar remark.
They also claimed to have told the parent to leave if they could not afford to see a doctor and to buy medicine for the child elsewhere.
In a later reply, the staff member alleged that a QR code had been provided to allow the parent to make the payment, but the parent still refused to do so.
The post drew widespread attention, recording more than 141,000 views at the time the screenshot was taken.
Some netizens supported the payment requirement
The incident divided social media users, with some agreeing that the parent should not have expected the clinic to provide treatment for free.
One commenter argued that free medical treatment for non citizens is not automatically provided in other countries either, regardless of how serious the illness may be.
Another said that while everyone should have access to healthcare, the use of public healthcare facilities should prioritise Malaysians.
Some also claimed that certain individuals might say they have no money in the hope that others would feel sorry for them and waive the charges.
Others criticised the staff member’s response
However, many netizens felt that the staff member’s choice of words was unnecessarily harsh, especially as a sick child was involved.
Several commenters stressed that the issue was not about whether the RM50 fee should be paid. Instead, they questioned why the requirement could not have been explained politely.
One user said healthcare workers should follow professional ethics and procedures instead of allowing personal emotions to affect how they deal with patients.
Another said the staff member could have spoken respectfully even if the parent did not understand the payment rules.
Others questioned whether someone working in a healthcare environment should use insulting language towards patients, regardless of their nationality or financial situation.
At the time of writing, the clinic involved and the full circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
The claims shared online represent the staff member’s account of the encounter. The parent’s version of events has not been made public, and it is unknown whether the child eventually received medical treatment elsewhere.
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