MIRI: Overcrowding at the polyclinic here is making life a misery for people who are already ill.
There are long queues to see the doctor caused by the breakdown of the electronic numbering system.
The waiting time to collect medication is equally long.
The public have been expressing their frustration on social media as the situation has been going on for a month.
Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting said the authorities must initiate remedial measures to ease discomfort while waiting for the completion of a bigger polyclinic that is currently under construction.
“Many patients come as early as 4am to 5am including those from outstation,” he said, adding their wait could stretch for many hours.
He said the staff are trying their best to cope with the situation but it is tough as the electronic system keeps failing.
Ting said the Miri Polyclinic had a doctor to patient ratio of one to 100 per day.
The SUPP secretary-general said the two polyclinics here are operating at maximum capacity.
“Many patients are mothers with babies and little children, with some having to come the night before.
“At the maternity and children section, there are only three doctors and two nurses who have to treat more than 300 patients everyday…
“The number of patients is surging every month, including from the rural districts since the city is the hub that caters to not just the 350,000 population of Miri but the more than one million population of the entire northern half of Sarawak.
“The present polyclinic facilities are aged and rundown as they were built decades ago.
“The manpower provided needs to be improved,” said Ting.
The Health Ministry is constructing a new RM35mil polyclinic for Miri city.
Earthwork has already started at the new site adjacent to the Miri General Hospital.