We have a system in place for the public to file complaints against health care staff. But is there a system that acts as a protective mechanism for health care staff where they can file their complaints so that MoH’s top management is aware that staff are being abused, not by fellow workers, but by patients?
– Doctor, during a town hall session between Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa and government doctors
As a journalist I have covered and read a lot about public and private healthcare systems in this country. I have interviewed patients and their families and analysed their views – most do not have nice words to say about government clinics and hospitals and of course their staff, and yet still opt to wait in endless queues to consult government doctors and specialists, arguing that they have no choice as they could not afford the exorbitant charges of private healthcare.
I have decided to write something about government medical care today. My world came crashing down on the morning of Oct 16 when I was admitted to the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH). The last time I could remember being admitted to a hospital was in 1965 at the Lau King Howe Hospital in Sibu.
I used to be a fitness buff decades ago, exercising without fail – even minor illnesses did not stop me. Addicted to exercise, there was never a single day I skipped my routine; two hours daily was my target.
My stressful life as a journalist eventually got the better of me and I stopped exercising for decades and started binging – eating whatever I can get hold of. All I cared about was my career. When I checked my sugar level late last month it was 13.9 mmol/L (millimoles per litre)! I didn’t give it much thought after that even though I was advised it was high!
Somehow, family pressure prompted me to go on a health programme to reduce my fat. So, from Oct 1 till 13, I put myself on a sugar level reduction and health programme – after nearly three decades I was doing between one and one hour 15 minutes on the treadmill, and went on an absolutely low carb, high protein, leafy vegetables and sugarless diet. The sudden drastic change in my diet did the trick; my sugar level dropped to 6.4.
That was it. Oct 14 onwards was the turning point. I felt very tired and exhausted while taking a few steps up the stairs. Something was wrong. I decided to consult a doctor at the SGH on Oct 16.
The doctor who initially saw me at the emergency ward immediately arranged for a specialist to attend to me. It was this doctor, a nice friendly SYT (sweet young thing), who after examining me, got me admitted to the Red Zone without delay. My condition was quite critical.
From then onwards only the best medical staff – both seniors and juniors – took over. These doctors, nurses and medical technicians were simply awesome, caring and very professional. I learnt later that I overdid my health programme without realising my age! My aging body couldn’t take it! And I thought I was doing okay.
I was overwhelmed by the medical staff’s professionalism and caring nature; they were not what they were made out to be by the public. Government doctors in our hospitals are among the best in the region! These doctors are not looking at money as private medical staff do. They are working because they love their profession – if money was their primary motive, many of the senior ones would have thrown in the towel and moved on to the private sector where remunerations are many times better.
Despite being considered overworked and not attractively paid, they slog on, true to the Hippocratic oath. Hats off to them.
I was transferred to Yellow Zone the next day as my condition had surprisingly improved by leaps and bounds.
And the doctors transferred me to the Male Medical Ward on Oct 18 which was well-equipped with hi-tech machines – among the best in the country. From there and then onwards, it was all the way to recovery. To think of it, just two days earlier I was in critical condition! I think I recovered not because I was a fighter; I recovered because of these awesome and highly professional government medical staff, nurses included.
I believe it would have cost RM20,000 to RM35,000 if I had been admitted to a private medical centre. Anyway, the SGH staff didn’t know I was a journalist. Just told them I was a pensioner.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank each and every one of them for giving their very best. I can’t name them individually because by doing so I would be advertently leaving out some; there were simply too many.
They also treated other patients very well. But some of the patients were simply too much and making unreasonable demands. It’s about time the public changed their attitude towards government healthcare staff and system. Give them their due recognition.
But, there is always a but; I am sorry, but I have got to highlight this issue. The toilets need to be maintained. Two of the washrooms, including the toilets, were ‘flooded’. Water was not flowing out properly. And one of the toilets was … ! That’s my only complaint. Hopefully, the cleaners would be more efficient.
On the whole, I won’t hesitate to go back to government hospitals if I ever need consultation again!
Thank you to all the government Florence Nightingales, specialists, technicians and admin staff. God bless you all! You are all angels sent down to serve mankind.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
