Video clip shows leak while procedure carried out in QEH I operating theatre
KOTA KINABALU: Perhati KKM’s Facebook page yesterday leaked out videos that apparently show rainwater dripping from the ceiling near the door while a procedure was being conducted inside an operating theatre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital I.
The incident is believed to have happened a er a downpour on Thursday evening.
It is believed a group of hospital staff decided to go to the social media to seek a ention and immediate action from the Health Ministry over problems faced by them at the hospital.
They said: “Show cause le ers are o en issued to the doctors who speak up on social media over issues in the Health Ministry.
“We get accused of ‘mencemarkan perkhidmatan awam’ (tarnishing civil service) for highlighting shortcomings and failures of the system. Simple things like A4 paper, maintenance of air conditioning systems and so on.
“On 16 May 2019, heavy rains hit Kota Kinabalu, causing floods in many areas. Hospital Queen Elizabeth was not spared and the operating theater was affected badly. You may view the videos a ached.
“Is this article therefore again painting a bad picture of our government service? Should I also be served a show cause le er?
“I believe the government should be the one writing a show cause le er to explain itself to Malaysians.
“Imagine the risk if water drips from the ceiling into an open surgical wound? This is completely unacceptable and shameful,” it said.
One of the three videos a ached in the Facebook post shows the flood situation in an operating theater while a surgery was being conducted.
“This le er does not mean to run down the state Health Department which has done a lot for Sabah but rather the state of national affairs when it comes to the Ministry of Health.
“Hospitals nationwide have multiple facility failures and issues but we are focusing on new fangled systems and programs while neglecting the fundamentals.
“Besides that, the budget allocation for Sabah has always been insufficient compared to other states/centers in the country.
“How does the ministry expect the state Health Department to manage Sabah when there just isn’t enough money?
“Contractors and maintenance companies need to be removed and changed as it is obvious that they have failed.
“We need to be honest and transparent in admi ing the faults we have and take prompt action,” they said.
The Facebook posting also said that overcharging by contractors and companies involved in hospital maintenance needs to stop as it burdens the whole ministry.
The posting said this is only the tip of the iceberg.
It urges all hospitals and health clinics nationwide to be investigated.
“How many more fires in ICU or floods in OT do we need? Stop writing show cause le ers to those who speak up against such issues. Stop trying to investigate anonymous writers.
“Don’t tell us to go through official channels anymore because this is proof that official channels have failed us,” they said.
Meanwhile, newly-appointed Sabah Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Frankie Poon urged the federal government to look into problems facing health facilities in the state.
Commenting on the Facebook posting of videos of the leaks in Queen Elizabeth Hospital I (QEH I), he said he was aware of the viral post and will look into the matter.