KUCHING: No baby in a country with supposed universal healthcare coverage should die in its mother’s arms on the way to hospital, said Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.
“We may need to rethink our methods on healthcare especially in rural areas as we want to ensure all Malaysians will get access to quality universal healthcare and such incidents do not happen again,” he said.
Dr Yii said this in is reference to two fatalities involving a baby who died in her mother’s arms in Sri Aman on Dec 4 and an elderly woman who died before an ambulance that was supposed to send her to hospital, could not pass through the Sungai Tujoh ICQS on Dec 6.
He pointed out that there has to be a transparent and comprehensive enquiry and investigation into the recent death cases in Sarawak allegedly due to lack of access of healthcare services in their respective areas.
“It is saddening that in this day and age, we still hear of such cases where there are people especially in the rural areas deprived of their right to quality healthcare.
“This is clear symptom of long-term under-investment and neglect in our healthcare services especially in rural areas,” he said.
Yii stated that to properly address such issue, the government has to address the different Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) which include addressing poverty, providing basic amenities, equitable development and many others, which may not only fall under the Ministry of Health (MoH).
Hence, moving forward to resolve health inequities, there has to be a comprehensive federal-state inter-ministry and inter-agency framework to come up with a holistic blueprint to properly address all the different SDoH to ensure that there no one is left behind, he said.
“I hope the new Health Minister and Deputy Minister will spearhead these inter-governmental agencies to first and foremost identify issues.
“Then, allocate the necessary resources to better equip the healthcare facilities in rural areas and also ensure development in surrounding ecosystem,” he said.
He added that it is important firstly to give all the necessary support to existing healthcare staff in the area before ensuring these facilities have the necessary specialist and manpower and even basic amenities and development.
Therefore, in the event of an emergency, patient transfer can be done in the most efficient manner without unnecessary hurdles.
Dr Yii said all of this requires political will and most importantly, for ministries not to work in silos anymore.
