Early arrivals among factors causing hospital congestion, says Perak exco

IPOH: Early arrivals and elderly patients accompanied by family members are among the key factors contributing to congestion at government hospitals in Perak, according to Datuk A. Sivanesan, the chairman of the State Health, Human Resources, Indian Affairs and National Integration Committee. Some elderly patients tend to arrive early, believing it will facilitate earlier consultations with doctors.

Sivanesan noted that senior citizens are often accompanied by family members, which intensifies congestion within the hospitals and parking areas. He responded to a question from Selinsing assemblyman Sallehuddin Abdullah about long waiting times and whether existing bed capacity could cater to the state's growing population and increasing chronic disease patients.

Sivanesan explained that doctors also have additional duties, such as conducting ward rounds, which could lead to longer waiting times, particularly when patients arrive ahead of their scheduled appointments. Despite this, he stated that patients remain generally satisfied with the care provided by doctors at government hospitals.

Sivanesan compared the situation with private hospitals, where patients might face longer waits for discharge while insurance companies approve treatments, a process that could take several hours. In contrast, government hospitals allow patients to leave immediately upon discharge. To alleviate congestion, the Health Department has introduced initiatives such as telephone appointments for medication collection and home medication delivery services.

Perak currently has 15 government hospitals with around 6,000 beds, of which approximately 5,600 are operational, leaving about 400 beds available. Additionally, there are 96 ICU beds, with 75 currently in use. Temporary shortages could occur during disease outbreaks or major emergencies, potentially requiring patient transfers to other hospitals.

Perak also has 89 health clinics and over 180 other healthcare facilities, with the government continuously focusing on meeting patients' needs and improving healthcare service delivery.