Melaka in need of doctors, use poor old ambulances - Exco
NOR FARHANA YAACOB
MELAKA - Melaka is still dealing with doctor shortage, where there is a need for 50 or more doctors to serve all hospitals and health clinics in the state.
Health, Human Resources and Unity exco Ngwe Hee Sem said that the matter has been forwarded to the Health Ministry (MoH) for immediate action to ensure better services for patients at government health institutions.
According to him, apart from the lack of doctors, 10 ambulances which were placed at hospitals and clinics around the state were also quite old.
"However, we are aware that the doctor shortage is not actually a problem that is only happening in Melaka.
"It is also faced by other states that are more in need than Melaka," he said when contacted on Saturday.
It an earlier report, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa informed that immediate deployment of new medical officers will be done at Melaka Hospital to overcome the lack of staff since the beginning of this month.
Meanwhile, Kota Melaka Member of Parliament Khoo Poay Tiong also expressed his concern over the lack of doctors in Melaka hospitals.
According to him, it is more alarming when the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) claimed that a severe shortage of doctors will occur next August due to communication problems in the placement of medical officers.
He said that he fears it would affect the quality of service that would be provided to patients.
"We hope that the Health Ministry can look into this issue and take effective measures," he said.
