Gov Hospital Issued Food Delivery Ban For Staff And Patients, Faced Backlash From Everyone
The management of Hospital Sungai Buloh finally changed their mind about enforcing the food delivery ban.
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A circular dated 9 August by Hospital Sungai Buloh raised some eyebrows when the hospital banned doctors and patients at the hospital from ordering food deliveries.
The management of the hospital reasoned that the food waste and litter from food deliveries compromised the cleanliness of the hospital wards and attracted pests on its premises.
The hospital cafeteria was also reminded to improve its services and food preparation to meet the demands of the hospital staff and the public.
Are doctors and patients supposed to starve?
Some Malaysians online including doctors were puzzled by the decision and gave their two cents on the matter.
The junior doctor rights movement Hartal Doktor Kontrak criticised the move and said whoever made the decision forgot what it was like to be on-call and hungry.
KKM logic, ban food delivery like #Grab & #Foodpanda for staff and patients. Might as well ban eating so that there will be no waste produced.
— HartalDoktorKontrak (@HKontrak) August 10, 2022
Yg buat keputusan dah lupa kot rasa tengah oncall & rasa lapar, sebab tu buat keputusan mcm ni. pic.twitter.com/rPCICu6p2e
Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii also voiced his disagreement over the ban and questioned what will happen to the doctors on-call when the cafeteria closes.
He pointed out that the hospital could help its cafeteria without compromising the welfare of its employees and patients.
If it is a waste management issue, then address the cleaning support staff capacity, or have thrash segregation bins all over to promote recycling etc…not a total ban.
Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii
Others said that the hospital might face problems with manpower when their staff are forced to travel out just to get food.
This for me is illogical and unfair for healthcare workers especially those on-calls after 6pm when the cafeteria closes.Even if you want help the cafeteria, not at the expense of the choice & convenience for the health workers. I hope @KKMPutrajaya takes note. pic.twitter.com/tZSQamW39w
— Kelvin yii (@Kelvinyii88) August 10, 2022
All Ketua2 Jabatan yg mesyuarat semua jenis lepak luar. Ur staff dah la sikit, nk suroh diaorg pergi beli di luar ke? dgn parking lg, dgn jem lg..Stupid!! They should blame the cleaning services. Sampah byk, bukan salah staf, the cleaning compny yg salah.
— Mohd Hafiz (@MohdHafiz8888) August 11, 2022
However, there are people who support the ban and said it’s not a time to ‘picnic’ at the hospital.
They believe banning doctors and patients from getting food orders outside will reduce the likelihood of allergies or complications.
Pada pendapat saya mgkn ada betulnya sbb takut makanan yg dipesan pesakit mgkn boleh menyebabkan komplikasi atau elergi apabila pesakit diberikan rawatan atau ubatan. Utk kakitangan, mgkn juga nak mengelakkan kes spt keracunan dll.
— HRM (@Helmirizal80) August 11, 2022
This is a great move by the Director 👍🏻 the concern is very clear in para 3, which is a major concern for a healthcare facility. We're to care for sick people not supervising picnic party.
— fmn (@fmnsky) August 11, 2022
The Health Ministry issued a statement
Due to the backlash, Hospital Sungai Buloh has decided to revoke the food delivery ban on its premises effective immediately.
The hospital management thanked the public for their input and promises to watch the welfare of its staff and patients.
Kenyataan Media Hospital Sungai Buloh
— KKMalaysia🇲🇾😷 (@KKMPutrajaya) August 11, 2022
Isu Larangan Menggunakan Khidmat Penghantaran Makanan Secara Dalam Talian Untuk Kakitangan dan Pesakit di Hospital Sungai Buloh pic.twitter.com/EZE9CnxtWO
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