KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has never issued any dress code for public hospitals and clinics, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya.
He said there was no such instruction from the ministry and the people could wear any kind of clothing as long as it was decent.
“The matter should not have arisen as we have never issued any orders on how people should dress when seeking government health services.
“We know that during emergencies, sometimes people just come dressed as they are and there is no time to find something decent.
“That is very understandable,” he said.
Dr Hilmi was commenting on a case in which a two-year-old boy was denied entry to the Kulai Hospital and 1Malaysia clinics in Saleng and Johor Baru because the staff deemed that the pants his mother was wearing were too short.
Dr Hilmi said the ministry would investigate the case, adding that civil servants in public hospitals and clinics should not take action without referring to the ministry’s standard of conduct.
“They went to the hospital to get treatment and what they were wearing that time is secondary.
“We cannot say no to any patient in need of treatment and turn them away. This is wrong,” he said. — Bernama
