PUTRAJAYA: Security at government hospitals will be tightened following a comprehensive review, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
This followed a recent incident in which a 22-year-old man was caught impersonating an assistant medical officer in Perlis.
"The matter is under investigation, and as I have stressed, we want to review the standard operating procedures (SOP) as such incidents keep cropping up.
"That is why we want (the review) to tighten the SOP so that such incidents do not recur," he told the press after the ministry's Hari Raya Open House on Tuesday (April 22).
On the night of April 8, the 22-year-old man was nabbed in the compound of Hospital Tuanku Fauziah in Kangar, Perlis on suspicion of impersonating an assistant medical officer.
ALSO READ: Man impersonates medical assistant at Perlis hospital
Based on initial investigations, the man was said to have bought the medical uniform he was wearing and a bag of medical equipment online.
The incident went viral on TikTok.
Dzulkefly said the review would cover all aspects of security, including the availability of such items online.
Asked if the incident called for more auxillary police personnel to be stationed at hospitals, he said this would also be considered in the review.
On a separate matter, he said an announcement on the ePlacement system would be made soon.
"The review of the system and the algorithm is in the last stages of completion.
"Those responsible for the system will be making an announcement very soon," he said.
On March 17, the ministry postponed the placement selection of 2,245 permanent medical officer (MO) candidates because of technical disruptions caused by extraordinary access to the ePlacement system.
ALSO READ: ePlacement system to be replaced with fairer, merit-based system, says Health DG
It was announced that the existing selection system based on the "first come, first served" principle will also be replaced with a more transparent, fairer system based on merit and balancing supply and demand.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim held an hour-long meeting with Dzulkefly before attending the ministry's celebration.
Dzulkefly said Anwar wanted to know the latest developments and reforms at the ministry.
Among the issues discussed were public health care, including the Sarawak Cancer Centre and National Heart Institute.
Anwar had announced under Budget 2025 that the Federal Government would work with the state government to develop the Sarawak Cancer Centre, which was estimated to cost RM1bil.
