MPs sound alarm over alleged dire staff shortage in Klang hospital

 

Two lawmakers whose constituents receive care at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) in Klang have echoed concerns about “increasingly critical and unsafe working conditions” at its Medical Department, as reported by the health portal CodeBlue.

Klang MP V Ganabatirau and Kapar MP Dr Halimah Ali, separately noted that the ongoing construction of the Kapar Hospital will not fully address the underlying issues affecting both staff and patients.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Ganabatirau said he had personally raised related issues in the Dewan Rakyat since 2022.

“For me, as an MP, I already received many complaints before this on the shortage of manpower at HTAR.

“From the service level, nurses, medical staff, they are very much facing a shortage when serving one of the largest and busiest hospitals,” he said.

Klang MP V Ganabatirau

“Day by day, patients are increasing, but there has been no increase in staff, and maybe even decreasing numbers from resignations or transfers.

“The situation is getting worse,” he added.

Severe lack of house officers

Yesterday, CodeBlue published a letter from a medical officer at HTAR, whose identity has been protected because civil servants are prohibited from writing to the press.

The author stated that the situation has deteriorated to a level that poses a direct and immediate risk to patient safety, continuity of clinical services, and workforce sustainability, necessitating a declaration of “Code Blue”.

“Despite repeated internal adjustments and interim mitigation measures, the system is no longer able to function safely or effectively under existing manpower constraints,” the doctor reportedly said.

According to the author, HTAR’s Medical Department comprises 13 medical wards, each accommodating approximately 60 patients, with sub-wards holding up to 14 patients.

The department is served by 15 house officers and 40 medical officers.

“The resulting patient-to-doctor ratio far exceeds accepted safe operational standards, placing sustained strain on the workforce and increasing the risk of delayed care, compromised clinical oversight, and medical error,” said the anonymous author.

In response, Halimah said such a patient-to-doctor ratio is a fundamental issue that the government must address.

“Technically, house officers are supposed to handle certain tasks, as medical officers are more experienced. But now it’s the other way around.

“That is something very fundamental that the government must address. There must be more HOs in government hospitals,” she said.

Kapar MP Dr Halimah Ali

Due to a shortage of house officers, the HTAR medical officer said they are required to undertake six to seven overnight on-call shifts per month, frequently without support.

The doctor said overnight admissions range from 12 to 16 patients, with the on-call medical officer solely responsible for a list of tasks, including complete clerking and documentation; blood draws and cannulation; patient transport; and management of all acute and unstable cases.

Malaysiakini has contacted Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad for comments.

‘They cannot keep firefighting’

Even with the government mooting the opening of Kapar Hospital as a solution, Halimah urged the ministry to undertake a comprehensive plan that includes a projection of manpower needs and demands.

“They need to know how many personnel are required, what is needed, and what equipment is necessary.

“A blueprint must already be in place. They cannot keep firefighting - only taking action when people make noise, or when many resignations happen. It has to be well planned,” she stressed.

Meanwhile, Ganabatirau noted that the Health Ministry’s responses to his Dewan Rakyat queries have not been adequate.

“Each time we raised the issue, they said ‘we will look into it’. Very normal answer,” he noted.

“Every time we talk about the worsening situation in HTAR, they keep saying Kapar Hospital will be ready soon, and so the burden will be transferred. But if manpower is insufficient, how will that solve the problem?

“Not only will the public suffer, but also the hospital staff at all levels. They are under heavy pressure, and nobody can deny that,” he stressed.

The DAP lawmaker also noted that, despite Halimah being an opposition MP from Perikatan Nasional, they shared a common concern about a critical issue facing their constituents.

The construction of the Kapar Hospital was approved in 2021 under the 11th Malaysia Plan, and the RM831 million contract for a new 312-bed government hospital was awarded to IJM Construction Sdn Bhd.

In November 2024, the Prime Minister’s Office Implementation Coordination Unit conducted a site visit after the project’s progress was delayed.

However, in May last year, Dzulkelfy reportedly commended the project after another site visit and said it was expected to be operational by this November. - Mkini