MEMBERS of the medical fraternity, netizens and an opposition MP have criticised a public hospital circular that barred its patients and staff from receiving online food deliveries in an effort to tackle food waste.
This was stipulated in an Aug 9 circular from the director of the Sungai Buloh Hospital and shared by Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii on Twitter last night (Aug 10).
The circular states that the new restriction was approved during a recent meeting in July by the hospital’s heads of departments.
“In this connection, the (hospital) cafeteria has been reminded to improve their services and prepare meals for (hospital) staff and visitors based on their needs and requests.
“This restriction was introduced following reports and complaints about an increase in food waste, unmanaged trash and pest infection, which has affected the cleanliness in wards,” the circular added.
However, the circular did not say when the restriction comes into effect.
Yii said the decision was “illogical and unfair” for healthcare workers, especially those working on-call after 6pm when the hospital cafeteria closes.
The DAP lawmaker urged the Health Ministry to take note of the circular, as others on social media called for the restriction to be rescinded.
Yii, the Parliamentary Special Select Committee of Health, Science and Innovation chairman, said it is the responsibility of the ministry to look after the welfare and needs of their healthcare workers – “not a private business” at the hospital.
“Don’t take away choices”
“Even if you want to help the cafeteria, (don’t do it) at the expense of the choice and convenience for the health workers,” Yii added.
He also said if it is an issue of waste management, then the hospital should address the cleaning support staff capacity or have trash segregation bins to promote recycling, not impose a total ban on food deliveries.
The contract doctors movement also criticised the restriction, saying those who made the decision likely forgot how it is like to be hungry while on call during graveyard shifts.
The Hartal Doktor Kontrak Twitter account also quipped that the hospital might as well “ban eating” so no waste will be produced, going by the logic of its restriction.
MedTweetMY founder and chairman Dr Khairul Hafidz called on Hospital Sungai Buloh director Dr Kuldip Kaur to review the “unreasonable” decision, asking if she expects hospital staff to step away from their jobs and go out to find food if they are working at night and hungry.
Taking to Twitter, he also questioned whether the issue of garbage and pest infection was limited to specific wards or the entire hospital building and its premises.
“If these issues are limited to certain wards, (restricting food deliveries) should only be done for those wards, not for all staff and patients,” Khairul said.
Others on Twitter raised concerns about vegetarian food usually not being available at cafeterias in Government buildings and cockroaches and rodents being found in eateries and places where food is prepared en masse.
In a statement issued this afternoon, Kuldip said the hospital management was revoking all restrictions listed in the circular effective immediately.
She also thanked those who gave their feedback and views on the matter, adding that the hospital management is committed and considerate of the needs and welfare of its staff and patients. – Aug 11, 2022
Main photo credit: Allo
