KOTA KINABALU: A viral video showing an elderly woman lying on a concrete planter bench in Kota Marudu township with her children by her side has sparked public concern over hospital procedures and access to healthcare.
The short clip, widely shared online, features a man’s voice alleging that Kota Marudu Hospital refused to treat the woman, insisting that only patients with prior appointments would be attended to.
He claimed the woman was in critical condition and expressed frustration over the hospital’s standard operating procedure (SOP).
The man, who appeared to be a bystander, lamented that there was nothing he could do and questioned the hospital’s SOP.
The video has reignited discussions on the challenges patients face when seeking urgent medical care in the district.
In response, Kota Marudu MP and Bandau assemblyman Datuk Wetrom Bahanda said the hospital had followed the SOP.
“According to the hospital director, the elderly patient had already seen a medical assistant but was also required to consult a doctor,” he said.
She was asked to take a queue number and wait for her turn but her children, seemingly unaware of the process, opted to take her to a private clinic instead.
“To be fair, Kota Marudu Hospital is currently facing a shortage of doctors. I will urge the Health Ministry to increase the number of medical personnel to speed up the process of attending to outpatients and emergency cases,” Wetrom said, acknowledging the strain on the district’s healthcare system.
He added that he would raise the issue during his debate speech in Parliament next week.
Assistant Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister and Tandek assemblyman Datuk Hendrus Anding said the video was not recent but had been repeatedly reposted online.
"The incident occurred about two weeks ago and has already been resolved.
"However, the video keeps resurfacing. I was informed that the woman's children have also requested for it to stop circulating. I urge netizens to refrain from sharing the clip,” he said.
The Sabah Health Department director has yet to respond over the matter.
