Calls For Shorter Wait Times At Govt Hospitals Boost Staff Numbers

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The success of reducing wait times at public health clinics from three hours to 30 minutes should be replicated at government hospitals.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) president N Marimuthu said this is so that all patients can receive quality treatment.
“We would like to remind (the Health Ministry) that government hospitals face similar challenges (as government clinics).
“The need to reduce wait times at hospitals is equally critical so that patients do not have to wait too long for treatment.
ADS“Therefore, we hope this initiative will be sustained and not just be a short-lived effort,” he told Bernama yesterday.
He also stressed that the government should allocate sufficient resources, including increasing the number of staff and improving facilities, to ensure that this initiative can be further enhanced and not limited to clinics alone.
Marimuthu (above) also proposed that the healthcare sector be prioritised in the next budget by increasing allocations to hire more staff and improve healthcare infrastructure.
This is particularly to address the issue of overcrowding in government hospitals and clinics, he said.
“Additional staff and new facilities are needed to meet the growing demand, especially with the country’s increasing population.
“This would not only reduce wait times but also ensure that every patient receives quality treatment,” he added.
Digital appointment system
Meanwhile, public health specialist Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said while the digital system now used in many health clinics helps shorten wait times, patients must still adhere to their appointment time and make necessary preparations before and during their visit.
He pointed out that previously, the lack of an efficient appointment system forced some patients to endure long waiting periods to see a doctor.
“This digital system streamlines appointment scheduling and reduces work process time from registration to patient queue management and medication collection. Therefore, patients must comply with the scheduled appointment times,” he said.
Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) education officer NV Subbarow expressed full support for the government’s efforts to improve the national healthcare sector.
“CAP welcomes this initiative and we hope that similar measures can be implemented not only in government clinics but also in hospitals, especially in areas with high patient volume.
“Attention should also be given to the medication collection process, which has been a common complaint due to the long waiting time in some hospitals,” he said.
- Bernama

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