March 14, 2025
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Minister of Health Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar addressed queries regarding the measures being taken to improve healthcare services at the 21st Legislative Council session yesterday.
The minister said the Ministry of Health (MoH) is exploring measures to address the growing concern of elderly patients being abandoned in hospitals for extended periods.
According to the ministry, key causes of this issue include social problems, such as the lack of suitable caregivers at home or delays in hiring new domestic helpers. In some cases, families are either unable or unwilling to care for elderly relatives with critical health conditions, such as bedridden patients or those with advanced dementia.
Additionally, there are elderly individuals without any family members, living alone in homes that are unsuitable for caregiving, requiring modifications and medical equipment such as hospital beds. The absence of qualified caregivers further contributes to their prolonged stays in hospitals. The ministry is considering various approaches to address this issue, including enhancing support for family caregivers and expanding home-based elderly care services.
The Geriatric and Palliative Unit at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital, together with the medical social work division, continues to work on solutions for elderly patients abandoned in hospitals. Among the steps taken is loaning out hospital beds or necessary medical equipment to patients.
However, limited medical facilities mean that patients often have to wait until equipment is returned by previous patients before it can be loaned out again. Since much of this issue is related to social factors, solving it requires collaboration from various parties, including government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), grassroots leaders and the community. This collective effort aims to ensure elderly people receive appropriate care and reduce the number of cases where they are left in hospitals for long periods.
Raising social awareness and engaging the community, including village leaders and local residents, are crucial to ensuring the welfare of the elderly. Measures such as speeding up the process of hiring domestic helpers with the hospital’s support and providing financial assistance to families who are financially struggling are among the initiatives being considered.
The MoH is also working closely with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports through the Community Development Department (JAPEM) to ensure the well-being of elderly individuals. Initiatives include enforcing laws for the protection of the elderly, emphasising the responsibility of family members in their care. Additionally, proposals to provide financial assistance or incentives to families caring for elderly individuals at home are also being considered as long-term solutions. A broad-based collaboration between all stakeholders is hoped to improve elderly care and reduce the instances of prolonged hospital stays.
The MoH provides various healthcare services through health centres and clinics nationwide, including home-based care services. However, these services are only available to patients who meet specific criteria, such as bedridden patients confirmed by health professionals, whether in hospital beds or at home. Patients who require specific procedures, such as tube changes or the use of particular medical machines, are also eligible for home-based care. This initiative aims to ensure that those in need of intensive care receive the appropriate treatment at home, reducing reliance on hospital facilities.
Suri Seri Begawan Hospital in Kuala Belait, located in an area prone to floods during the northeast monsoon season, has continued to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services. The frequent flooding, especially due to the high tides around the Kolobahim River estuary, affects the surrounding land, including the hospital area.
However, despite the overflowing river and continuous heavy rainfall, hospital operations remain unaffected. Past experiences have shown that emergency services and the surrounding hospital area were not impacted and the hospital continues to provide 24-hour services to patients regardless of the weather. Efficient hospital management and flood monitoring systems ensure the safety of both patients and staff.
Suri Seri Begawan Hospital is undergoing a relocation project for its new emergency services building, funded by the 12th National Development Plan (RKN12). The project, which began on February 26, is expected to be completed by February 2026. The new building will be constructed at a higher elevation and located next to the existing Accident and Emergency Department.
To enhance overall well-being, the hospital management is collaborating with the Public Works Department at the Ministry of Development, on initiatives such as the relocation of drainage systems on Jalan Panglima in June 2023. The main goal of this initiative is to ensure the proper functioning of the drainage system outside the hospital area, reducing the risk of flooding and disruptions to hospital operations in the future.
link