“Malaysia is short of nearly 11,000 specialists, while nursing vacancies stand at 18%. Hospitals nationwide are operating at or near full capacity.”
KUALA LUMPUR: Urgent investment is needed in the national healthcare sector as it serves at least 70% of the Malaysian population, said Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo.
“We acknowledge the Finance Ministry’s statement that spending adjustments will not jeopardise critical services. We hold the government to that commitment.
“However, the proposed RM3.06 billion cut represents 6.6% of the Health Ministry’s operating budget, leaving the ministry with less allocation than last year. This is a significant reduction to a system already under severe strain.
“Malaysia is short of nearly 11,000 specialists, while nursing vacancies stand at 18%. Hospitals nationwide are operating at or near full capacity,” Thirunavukarasu said in a statement.
He also mentioned the dire situation faced by Hospital Ampang.
“The conditions at Hospital Ampang puts a clear human face on what underfunding means. As Malaysia’s national referral centre for haematology, it cares for some of the most vulnerable patients, those with blood cancers and complex disorders.
“With a capacity of 701 beds across 17 wards, the hospital was among the first in Malaysia to implement a fully digital Total Hospital Information System to support patient care.
“On April 23, that system collapsed for 33 hours. Doctors have reported that it had not been upgraded since 2007 and was still running on Windows XP, an operating system retired over a decade ago.
“During this time, patient records were inaccessible, blood test results were delayed and prescriptions could not be processed.
“Doctors reverted to manual documentation. For patients waiting for blood results to determine chemotherapy dosing, 33 hours is not a technical issue, it is 33 hours of uncertainty.”
Thirunavukarasu pointed out that four days later, a burst pipe flooded the operating theatre (OT).
“Surgical equipment had to be moved. Patients who had waited weeks for surgery were sent home and told to wait again.
“The Health and Finance ministries must provide a clear explanation on how this was allowed to happen.”
According to media reports, the Finance Ministry had said on Wednesday that RM5.4 billion in operational expenditure cuts were proposed for the Health and Higher Education ministries as part of measures to save government funds due to the conflict in the Middle East.
The Finance Ministry said the directive issued by the Treasury had suggested that cost savings could be achieved by various ministries, departments and agencies.
According to the directive, a total of RM10 billion could be saved across the board, including RM3.06 billion from the Health Ministry and RM2.39 billion from the Higher Education Ministry.
The Health Ministry was given RM46.5 billion under this year’s budget while the Higher Education Ministry was allocated RM18.6 billion.
The Finance Ministry also instructed the postponement of government conferences, seminars and workshops as well as the hiring of new civil servants.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the ministry has directed a comprehensive structural and digital audit of Hospital Ampang to address underlying issues stemming from its ageing infrastructure.
He said in a post on his X account that the ministry is working to restore normalcy, and that patient safety remains a non-negotiable priority.
On the disruption of the hospital’s electronic information system, Dzulkefly said it was caused by a technical maintenance error that affected system modules.
“Technical teams from the Health Ministry are currently performing system synchronisation and data integrity validation.
“Business continuity plans are also active to ensure that clinical care continues manually without interruption.”
Dzulkefly also said the CT Scan replacement project is nearing completion.
Following a transition to a new leasing model, the unit is on track to be operational by today.
He also clarified that a recent leakage in the OT complex involved a chilled water pipe within the ventilation system.
“While repairs were completed swiftly, we are now conducting mandatory re-sterilisation, terminal cleaning and air-particle audits.
“There will be no compromise, the OT will only resume once 100% infection control compliance is verified.”