PETALING JAYA: From dilapidated quarters to water supply issues, these are the conditions healthcare staff serving in the interiors of Malaysia had to live with.
A doctor, who was stationed in Sabah’s interior for the past two years, said staff had been living in a longhouse attached to the clinic.
The longhouse was home to medical assistants, doctors, nurses and other staff members.
“It was just a reused building and they have been living there since 2018. There are only bedrooms and a living room, while the toilet is located elsewhere.
“Staff had to use the shared toilets and washroom facilities.
“They lived this way for eight years while taking care of patients,” said the doctor, who requested anonymity.
In addition, staff had to rely on gravity water or rainwater.
“During the rainy season, water supplies are abundant but it can be cloudy and muddy.
“During the dry season, the clinic and quarters may end up with no water for months.
“There was once we had to purchase water at the nearest town which is about 60km from the health clinic,” he said, adding that the staff continued to do their best for the local community.
The doctor also expressed concern that healthcare workers receive only RM500 in incentives, with the amount determined by their work location and level of hardship.
Comparatively, teachers in the nearby school got up to RM1,500.
“The older generation may be resilient but these situations would pose challenges for the future workforce,” he said, adding that as the sole medical officer, it was normal to see 80 to 100 patients daily, excluding emergency cases.
“There were also placements for additional medical officers here but the candidates left the Health Ministry after knowing about the state of our clinic and quarters,” he added.
He noted that the clinic they had operated out of was also declared as Beyond Economic Repair following a landslide in 2018. The staff were then relocated to the longhouse and promised a new clinic, which was only built this year.
“For eight years, the clinic was operating under an unofficial building with inappropriate specifications,” he said.
Dr J (name changed) who served in Beluran, Sabah, said the quarters were in bad shape with water supply issues.
“It was a wooden house that was pretty run down and the water supply was not great.
“The floor was kind of broken too and I was worried that it was falling apart, so I rented a house in the same village. It was slightly better than the quarters,” he said.
Another doctor based at a health clinic in Sabah’s interior said while tap water was available, there were multiple occasions where the water had white and brown tints.
“It can be murky and seems to not have been treated properly.
“At times, the water is slightly brown, and other times, it has a white complexion similar to how water looks when chemicals are mixed inside,” he said on condition of anonymity.
The doctor also said water supplies get cut during the rainy season and can last from one to four weeks.
“We have to resort to using drinking water and being creative to catch rainwater,” he said.
He added that power outages and Internet disruptions occur two to three times a month.
“Electricity shortages are resolved in less than 30 minutes but Internet connectivity can take between three and four days to resolve,” he said.
He added that while the overall structure of the quarters was acceptable, maintenance was lagging.
“We have a system for complaints and repairs, but so far, no repair has ever been approved.
“In the end, we fix whatever we can using our own money.
“I am fortunate that there is no major damage so far,” he said.
Dr Amy, posted in the interior of Sarawak, said the house was not in a habitable condition, especially the toilet which was not properly maintained.
Her complaints supposedly fell on deaf ears.
“I lodged complaints but there wasn’t any action. I had to live with a clogged toilet for a while and this was after I moved in.
“Eventually, I had to find my own plumber to resolve the issue,” she said.
“The least we expect is basic amenities, and at least, a clean house before we move there.”
