Case of woman refused entry to hospital due to attire will be investigated, says Health DG

PETALING JAYA: The case of a woman who was refused entry to Kampar Hospital for treatment due to her attire will be investigated, says Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

In a tweet Tuesday (Feb 14), Dr Noor Hisham said: “This shouldn’t happen in health facilities. We will investigate and if it is true, will take necessary action. Thank you for highlighting this issue.”

He was responding to Twitter user @devprasad888, who tagged Dr Noor Hisham about the incident which went viral on social media.

A woman was reportedly scolded by a medical worker for being "indecently dressed" while seeking treatment at the hospital in the 11pm incident on Sunday (Feb 12).

Earlier, Perak health committee chairman A. Sivanesan said it is an unwritten understanding to dress appropriately when visiting governmental premises.

Sivanesan said while he was not saying anyone was at fault over the dress code kerfuffle at Kampar Hospital, people should dress appropriately when seeking treatment at government clinics or hospitals.

"If you go to a government department, there should be decorum.

"Whether the hospital had (put up) a notice or not, as Malaysians, we must know what to wear," he told a press conference after opening a free health screening programme in Ipoh on Tuesday (Feb 14).

"If you go to a temple, there's also no signboard, but we know we cannot wear short skirts there. It's an unwritten understanding.

"I am not saying what the hospital did is correct and I (still) need to investigate (the incident)," he said, adding that all hospitals, including private ones, have the discretion to set a dress code.

"If the hospital staff don't have the power to ask the patient to go back and change, but did so, action can be taken against them," he added.

Sivanesan said he also hoped the woman would come forward to tell her side of the story.