Materia Medica Malaysiana

Hospitals Ordered To Tighten Security After Baby's Disappearance

All hospitals in Kedah have been told to step up security, especially in maternity wards, following the disappearance of a newborn boy at the Sungai Petani Hospital on Sunday.
State Health, Community Development and Unity Committee chairman Datuk V. Saravanan said the measure was taken to avoid a similar incident.
"We can improve the situation by tightening security like allowing only the parents of a newborn into the ward while others have to obtain written permission from the hospital authorities," he told a media conference after visiting the missing baby's family at Taman Sri Tanjung, Sungai Layar, here Tuesday.
The 3.6kg baby, born at 8.32am on Sunday, was found missing at 2.20pm the same day after he was bathed by a nurse.
The nurse reportedly placed the baby on a bed and went to prepare milk for him, but she found the baby not there when she returned.
Saravanan said stern action would be taken if there was evidence to show negligence by the staff.
Asked why the hospital only lodged a police report four hours after the baby was discovered missing, he said the delay was due to various procedures which needed to be followed by the hospital.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Syed Razak Syed Zain, met by reporters at a function in Alor Star, expressed the state government's sympathy for the family.
"This is a first in Kedah. We urge the police to intensify the search for the baby because the incident affects the image of the hospital and also the state government," he added.
In KUALA LUMPUR, Health Director-General Datuk Dr Ismail Merican said the Health Ministry would leave it to the police to investigate the case.