She said the long queues were not solely a HKL issue, and neither was it a new one.

“We are aware of the problems at the emergency department (of HKL). It is not a new issue, and it is not only at HKL,” she told FMT.

Zaliha was responding to a photograph making the rounds on social media of a crowded emergency department at HKL.

She said she has called for an audit of the situation and the medical practice division is  working on it.

Zaliha said most major hospitals in Ipoh, Klang and Johor Bahru are facing similar situations.

She said 70% of the cases that come through the emergency department are non-critical cases.

However, she acknowledged that more medical personnel, such as nurses, doctors and medical assistants, are needed to overcome the problem.

Some hospitals, she added, have systems in place to reduce crowded wards but there is still a need to increase manpower.

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