KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 – In the wake of recent dress code issues that have gone viral, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa has reminded medical practitioners of their ethical responsibilities and called for patient treatment to be prioritised above all else.
Dr Zaliha told Parliament today that every patient must be given priority for treatment regardless of race, ethnicity, or dress code.
“Every medical practitioner, including health care staff, must uphold their ethics. After all, we have taken an oath, the Hippocratic oath, specifically for doctors or medical practitioners, including the willingness to assist patients as best as possible,” Dr Zaliha said when asked by Balik Pulau MP Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik about dress codes at government health facilities.
Reports of individuals being denied entry to government facilities providing essential services like hospitals and clinics, due to the strict enforcement of dress codes has become an increasingly frustrating issue.
Most recently, a middle-aged woman was denied entry to Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan, Pahang, which officials described as a “misunderstanding” about dress codes at government health facilities.
In response to the issue of patients being denied treatment due to dress codes, Dr Zaliha again suggested that communication breakdowns may be to blame.
“Perhaps what happened was a communication problem. Usually, if we receive complaints, we will take immediate action to ensure that the issue does not recur,” Dr Zaliha said.
The incident at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital is not an isolated case of individuals being denied entry to public health care facilities over their dressing. Last month, a woman dressed in shorts was prohibited from entering Kampar Hospital in Perak for emergency treatment.
