LETTER | I refer to the letter Jabatan Kesihatan Sabah jawab isu 'Malaysia's sick hospitals'.

Kudos to Dr Christina Rundi, director of Sabah state health department. However, my letter that was written also mentioned Hospital Sultan Aminah in Johor Baru - where is their response and apology to the public for the loss of lives that resulted from an unsafe building?

Where is the response from the ministry and the director-general regarding issues facing hospitals nationwide?

Can they be transparent with the number of major issues facing hospitals in this country and give deadlines for these issues to be settled?

The issue inadequate supply of antibiotics and anaesthetic drugs is not only happening in Sabah but also around the country.

The reason given for this is that suppliers fail to deliver is not acceptable as drugs are one of the main pillars of a hospital. Something needs to be done to ensure that this supply is never broken.

I challenge the health ministry to conduct a nationwide audit and survey of all these issues and declare them to healthcare professionals.

Most audits thus far are conducted in such a way that it does not pick up the real issues.

The audit system needs to be revamped to ensure that transparency and standards are maintained, rather than a whole show of paperwork and coats of new paint days before an audit.

Issues such as staffing of doctors/nurses in hospitals in Borneo, budgets for assets purchase and so many more issues have not even been explored.

To those in Putrajaya, please wake up and respond this call. Sabah (and Sarawak) have been left behind in more ways than one.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.