Telupid (Dec 21) - Although designated as a standard clinic, Klinik Kesihatan Telupid effectively operates around the clock, functioning more like a hospital as each doctor serves about 2,164 residents—far above the national ratio of one doctor to 412 people.
The imbalance was highlighted during a recent health briefing, which showed the clinic is managing nearly five times the national workload benchmark while providing 24-hour services. Built in 2009, the facility serves over 30,000 people and treats between 300 and 350 patients daily.
Located in a rural interior district of Sabah where most residents are from the B40 income group and depend on agriculture, the clinic operates beyond its intended capacity due to constant demand, limited resources and the lack of nearby specialist hospitals. The nearest specialist facility, Hospital Duchess of Kent in Sandakan, is about 128km away, while Hospital Beluran does not offer specialist services.
As a result, around six to eight patients are referred daily to Sandakan for specialist care. The situation was highlighted during a visit by Telupid assemblyman Datuk Jonnybone Kurum, who noted key issues affecting service delivery, including a damaged and outdated X-ray machine, a single ambulance that has been in use for over a decade, staff shortages and unsafe quarters needing urgent repairs. Applications for upgrades submitted since 2022 remain unapproved.
Jonnybone said long travel distances and delays in seeking treatment contribute significantly to mortality rates, especially among expectant mothers, as the clinic handles only normal deliveries while complicated cases must be referred to Sandakan. Data presented showed cardiovascular disease, heart conditions and respiratory infections as the leading causes of death in the district.
He added that a dialysis centre at the clinic is expected to be completed by April 2026, although operations will only begin once water supply, equipment placement and staffing issues are resolved. Jonnybone said he would continue engaging relevant authorities, stressing the need for urgent intervention to ease the growing strain on healthcare services in Telupid.