Medical group defends multilingual dengue cards for patient safety

 

A doctors’ group has called on all parties not to politicise the use of a Chinese-language dengue patient monitoring record card.

While emphasising its respect for the national language, the Private Medical Practitioners’ Association of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur (PMPASKL) touted effective patient communication as an essential pillar of healthcare services.

“In real clinical practice, doctors and healthcare workers may, at times, need to explain health information in the language or dialect most clearly understood by the patient or family. 

“This may include Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin, Tamil, or other local languages and dialects, depending on the patient’s needs and the clinical setting,” PMPASKL president Dr Eugene Chooi said in a statement today.

He said such efforts must not be interpreted as a challenge to national identity, as their purpose is to save lives.

Medical card in Chinese

On May 20, the Federal Territory Health Department of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya clarified that official patient monitoring cards are in Malay, but versions in other languages are also available in high-density areas to facilitate communication.

Commenting on an incident involving the use of a Chinese-language medical card, the department confirmed that the incident occurred on May 18, involving a child seeking treatment for suspected dengue fever.

In this case, it said a card was unintentionally issued in a different language to the patient’s guardian.

The department stressed that the medical officer still provided medical explanations and instructions in Malay, including written notes on the card.

Communication is key

Commenting further, Chooi pointed to practices by other public health authorities, including international organisations such as the World Health Organization, to ensure effective communication to diverse communities.

“Globally, multilingual health education materials are commonly used to improve health literacy, treatment adherence, continuity of care, and patient safety,” he explained.

Stressing the importance of patient safety, Chooi said that healthcare professionals must be allowed to carry out their responsibilities without “unnecessary non-clinical interference”.

“In medical practice, communication is part of clinical responsibility. 

“When patients are elderly, anxious, unwell, or unfamiliar with medical terminology, healthcare professionals must communicate in a way that patients can clearly understand. 

“This is especially important in conditions such as dengue, where delayed recognition of warning signs may lead to serious consequences,” he said. - Mkini