PETALING JAYA: A sharp drop in the number of medical officers on duty at Hospital Kuala Lumpur’s (HKL) Orthopaedic Clinic caused the six-hour waiting time there, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
The Health Ministry said investigations revealed that this decline of over 60% happened because medical officers with permanent placements were transferred out, some left for post-graduate programmes, and others resigned without a replacement.
The ministry said medical officers and specialists also have to work at several locations within HKL throughout the day, including wards, operating theatres and clinics.
“Owing to the limited workforce, only five medical officers and seven specialists are posted at the clinic, which treats between 150 and 300 patients daily.
“As most cases are complex, the consultation time is also longer, causing the waiting period to increase,” the ministry said in a written reply on Friday (Aug 22).
It added that further discussions between the hospital and its staff also noted that how patients are informed of their waiting time could be improved.
“If the waiting time is long, patients or relatives can be given the option of changing the appointment date or obtaining a prescription until the next appointment,” it said.
Kalam Salan (PN-Sabak Bernam) had asked about the investigation into the six-hour waiting period at HKL’s Orthopaedic Clinic that went viral on social media.
He also asked if the ministry planned to expand its electronic appointment system and manage patient flow into government health facilities to reduce congestion and improve service delivery.
The ministry said it had launched an appointment system through the MySejahtera application beginning Jan 1, 2023, offering 17 types of health services.
“The ministry also intends to expand the appointment system at specialist clinics at hospitals to reduce congestion,” it added.
