CCTV cameras in hospitals soon

NST: The theft of a gold nose stud from a 93-year-old woman at the Muar Hospital has paid unexpected dividends.
The Health Ministry plans to install closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all government hospitals as part of an overall programme to beef up security in these buildings.
Its minister, Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek, said he would table the proposal in the Cabinet.
"If the Cabinet approves the proposal, it will be implemented nationwide," he told reporters.
He said security at most hospitals and medical facilities was lax as guards were often not properly trained.
Dr Chua said this when commenting on the plight of Packiam Chinnapan who lost her mookuthi (nose stud) to a bogus doctor at the hospital here last Saturday.
The ornament, which she has worn for the past 75 years, was part of the dowry she received from the family of her late husband in 1930.
Dr Chua said nurses and other medical staff should be trained to detect unfamiliar faces moving in and out of wards, especially after visiting hours.
"The ministry has set up a committee under parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon to review hospital security and revamp the system.
"The committee will take about a month to come up with recommendations," he said.
Dr Chua said it was difficult to monitor movement of people in hospitals, especially when some received between 8,000 and l0,000 visitors daily.
"This is one of the reasons why we insist on strictly enforcing the rule on visiting hours.
"We appeal to the public to co-operate," he said.
Meanwhile, Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said he was touched by Packiam’s loss.
"I truly feel sorry for her," Ghani said at his Hari Raya open house in Sungai Mati here.
"It was a cruel and heartless thing to do, robbing an old woman of something so close to her heart."
Johor MIC Youth chief M. Asojan, also Gambir Assemblyman, said the party’s Youth wing had been directed to help Packiam.