Kota Kinabalu: Hospital Kota Marudu followed proper procedures in the case of an elderly woman seen lying on a bench in a viral video.
The video, which shows the woman lying on a concrete planter bench in the township with her children nearby, prompted public concern and a response from Kota Marudu MP and Bandau assemblyman Datuk Wetrom Bahanda.
Wetrom said the hospital had done what it could in offering assistance. In the 100-second clip, a man’s voice alleges that the hospital refused to treat the woman. He claimed she was in critical condition and expressed frustration with the hospital’s policy.
“According to the hospital director, the elderly patient had already seen a medical assistant, but was also required to consult a doctor,” he said.
The narrator claimed she was asked to take a queue number and wait her turn, but her children, seemingly unaware of the process, opted to take her to a private clinic instead.
“To be fair, Hospital Kota Marudu is currently facing a shortage of doctors. I will urge the Health Ministry to increase the number of medical personnel to speed up the process for outpatients and emergency cases,” said Wetrom, who acknowledged the strain on the district’s healthcare system.
He added that he would raise the issue during his debate speech in Parliament next week.
When contacted, Hospital Kota Marudu director Dr Lydiarita M. Marajin said all reports on the incident have been submitted to Sabah Health Department director Dr Maria Suleiman.
“We cannot comment on the matter, as the reports have been submitted to the state Health Department director’s office. Only she is authorised to make a statement,” she said. Assistant Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister and Tandek assemblyman Datuk Hendrus Anding confirmed that the widely shared video was not recent.
“This incident occurred about two weeks ago, and has already been resolved. However, the video keeps resurfacing. “I was informed that the woman’s children have also requested for it to stop circulating and I urge netizens to refrain from sharing the clip further,” he said.
Sabah’s northern Kota Marudu parliamentary constituency comprises the Tandek, Bandau, and Matunggong state seats.
