Physician urges private hospitals to be transparent on emergency care

A public health physician has called on private hospitals in Malaysia to be more transparent about their emergency care procedures and raise public awareness about how such situations are managed. Dr M Murallitharan noted that while most public and private hospitals have well-defined emergency protocols, public misunderstandings tend to persist due to insufficient transparency and awareness.

He emphasized the importance of hospitals being open about their compliance with these processes to maintain public trust in the healthcare system.

Murallitharan's comments came in the wake of a 2022 case where a welder was jailed for the death of his wife's alleged boyfriend. The welder claimed he had mistakenly stabbed the victim and quickly took him to a private hospital, which reportedly declined to provide treatment. According to Murallitharan, private hospitals are legally obligated under Section 38 of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 to offer essential life-saving measures and emergency procedures to anyone in need, regardless of social or financial status.

The Malaysian Medical Council guidelines further state that such treatment must be provided without delay, even if the patient's condition threatens their life, organ, or limb. Hospitals are also required to transfer the patient to another facility if they cannot continue to provide ongoing care.