KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 28 out of 39 major hospitals nationwide recorded average waiting times of less than eight hours for beds for patients admitted from emergency departments as of June, the Dewan Rakyat heard.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said this marked an improvement from 2025, when 55.26% of hospitals recorded average bed waiting times of less than eight hours.
The figures covered Type One and Type Two hospitals, comprising state hospitals and major specialist hospitals that handle high patient volumes and referrals from surrounding districts.
“Meanwhile, 94 of 103 Type Three and Type Four hospitals, comprising minor specialist hospitals and hospitals without specialists, recorded average bed waiting times of less than four hours,” he said during the question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Oct 27).
He was responding to Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun (PH-Port Dickson), who asked about the number of government hospitals experiencing persistent emergency department congestion, average waiting times for treatment and ward admission, and the ministry’s measures to address the problem.
Dzulkefly said the ministry had introduced various measures to improve public healthcare delivery, including monitoring waiting-time indicators and outsourcing 14 services since 2024.
The outsourcing programme had benefited more than 50,000 patients at 75 Health Ministry hospitals, he said.
Other short-term measures included improving patient flow through Lean Healthcare initiatives, strengthening bed management, providing dedicated waiting areas for patients awaiting discharge and expanding day-care units.
“The ministry also introduced cluster hospitals and service networks to facilitate the sharing of specialist expertise, equipment and bed capacity among hospitals in nearby areas.
“We also expand the role of health clinics in managing stable cases and chronic diseases to strengthen primary care.
“In the longer term, the ministry is undertaking targeted infrastructure upgrades, renovations and expansions, alongside efforts to strengthen staffing,” he said.
