THE Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed that a toddler who suffered a seizure at Melaka Hospital had been waiting for over nine hours to be admitted to a ward, citing high patient load as the cause of the delay.
The incident, first reported by Malaysia Gazette on 12 May 2025 under the headline “Budak Diserang Sawan Akibat Hospital Melaka ‘Sidai’ Anak Demam Panas Sehingga 11 Jam”, involved a 22-month-old baby girl who had been experiencing a fever for two days prior to admission.
According to the Melaka State Health Department, the child was registered at the hospital’s Emergency and Trauma Department at 4.07pm on Saturday, 10 May. At the time, her condition was recorded as stable, with a body temperature of 37.7ºC, and she was scheduled for ward admission.
However, due to a surge in patient numbers, her admission was delayed. During the waiting period, the child suffered a seizure but was stabilised after receiving immediate emergency care. She was eventually admitted to the ward at 1.40am on Sunday, 11 May and discharged in good health at 5.00pm the following day.
“The Ministry views this incident seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the root cause,” KKM said in a statement.
It added that appropriate remedial measures will be taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future, in line with its Madani values – particularly Ihsan, which prioritises empathy in the delivery of quality healthcare, and Kesejahteraan, which promotes social harmony between healthcare providers and patients.
The Ministry assured the public of its commitment to upholding high standards in the national healthcare system and protecting the well-being of its most vulnerable patients. - May 19, 2025
