‘Review SOPs to deal with patient overcrowding’

Easing traffic at hospitals: Extended hours for health clinics would be a cost- effective way to divert green cases from emergency departments, says Dr Lee. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star

PETALING JAYA: Diverting green zone or non-critical cases to health clinics will reduce patient volumes at overcrowded emergency department of hospitals but this will involve increasing manpower at these facilities, say experts.

Public health advocate and former Health Ministry official Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said there was a need to review the standard operating procedures for patients coming in to the department and admissions.

“Green zone cases should go to health clinics. There should be a new operation schedule for health clinics based on location, patient load and staff,” he said.

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As a long-term solution, he said, more emergency departments based on population and location must be set up.

Former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said among the reasons for overcrowding at emergency departments was bed shortage.

“More patients, especially the non-urgent green zone cases, are coming to emergency. This is because health clinics and a lot of general practitioners’ clinics do not operate at night. The working population can only consult doctors or bring their children or parents for consultations at night,” he said.

Dr Lee added that extended hours for health clinics would be a cost- effective way to divert green cases from emergency departments.

The Star reported on Jan 10 that health clinics, too, were critically understaffed with some doctors having to see 40 to 140 patients a day.

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Both Dr Lee and Dr Zainal Ariffin agreed that the Health Ministry needs a higher budget.

Dr Zainal Ariffin said Malaysia’s healthcare spending is still below the World Health Organisation yardstick of 5% of the gross domestic product (GDP), adding that funds are needed for new facilities, equipment, training and enhancing ICT and digitalisation.

Dr Lee felt the ideal healthcare expenditure for a middle-income nation like Malaysia should be at 6%-7% of the GDP.

“At the moment, it is at about 4% of the GDP with 50% each from the public and private sectors. To make it to 6%-7%, public sector expenditure has to be doubled.

“The ministry’s budget should be increased from RM30bil yearly to RM60bil!” he said.

On top of this, he added, there is a need to improve efficiency within the ministry, which includes computerisation of administration and electronic medical records, decentralisation or flattening of organisational structures so that state or district or large hospitals have more autonomy in planning, budget control as well as hiring of healthcare workers.