Nearly 72% of major hospitals meet eight-hour bed waiting target

KUALA LUMPUR — The Ministry of Health said that nearly 72 per cent of major hospitals across the country have achieved bed waiting times of under eight hours, signalling progress in managing patient flow and hospital capacity. Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad made the announcement as the ministry outlined both immediate and long-term strategies to tackle overcrowding and reduce delays in hospital admissions. The performance metric reflects efforts by hospital administrators and clinical staff to streamline emergency department operations and bed management protocols. The ministry is pursuing short-term interventions including enhanced bed utilisation reviews and discharge planning procedures to free up capacity more quickly. For longer-term sustainability, the health sector is examining structural solutions such as infrastructure expansion and workforce development to better align bed supply with patient demand across the public healthcare system.