Telupid assemblyman Datuk Jonnybone Kurum was told of shortcomings health affecting service delivery during his visit to the clinic recently.
TELUPID : On paper, Klinik Kesihatan Telupid is just that — a clinic, typically meant to operate during office hours.
In reality, it runs 24 hours a day, functioning more like a hospital as each doctor attends to 2,164 residents, compared with the national ratio of one doctor to every 412 people.
The disparity was highlighted during a recent health briefing, which showed that the rural clinic is operating under a workload nearly five times heavier than the national benchmark, even as it provides round-the-clock services usually associated with hospitals.
Telupid is a rural interior district in Sabah, where most residents fall within the B40 income group and rely largely on agriculture and small-scale farming for their livelihoods.
According to data presented by Dr Nafsiah Dulais, a public health medicine specialist from the Beluran District Health Office, Klinik Kesihatan Telupid is effectively operating beyond its intended capacity due to sustained patient demand, limited resources and the absence of nearby specialist hospitals.
Built in 2009, the clinic serves a population of more than 30,000 people, with an average of between 300 and 350 patients seeking treatment daily.
The nearest specialist hospital, Hospital Duchess of Kent in Sandakan, is located about 128km away, while Hospital Beluran is not a specialist facility.
The strain is further reflected in patient transfers, with the clinic referring about six to eight patients to Sandakan every day for specialist treatment.
The pressure on the clinic was brought into focus during a recent visit by Telupid assemblyman Datuk Jonnybone Kurum, who said the briefing exposed several critical shortcomings affecting service delivery.
“The issue of a damaged X-ray machine that needs to be replaced is a major concern. The X-ray currently in use is an old model and this needs immediate attention,” he said when met during his visit.
Jonnybone said the clinic has only one ambulance, which has been in service for more than 10 years, in addition to facing insufficient healthcare personnel and unsafe staff quarters that require urgent maintenance.
Several applications for upgrading works and repairs have been submitted since 2022, he added, but have yet to receive approval.
“The strain on healthcare workers is significant, and this affects how services can be prioritised, especially in emergency cases,” he said.
Addressing mortality statistics recorded at Klinik Kesihatan Telupid, Jonnybone said the figures were largely influenced by long travel distances and delays in seeking early medical attention, as many villagers live far from the health facility.
He said access challenges are particularly critical for expectant mothers, as Klinik Kesihatan Telupid only handles normal deliveries, while emergency cases or births requiring Caesarean procedures must be referred to Hospital Duchess of Kent in Sandakan.
Data presented during the briefing showed that the leading causes of death in the district were linked to cardiovascular disease, heart conditions and respiratory infections.
On haemodialysis services, Jonnybone said the construction of a dialysis centre at Klinik Kesihatan Telupid is expected to be completed by April 2026.
However, operations can only begin after issues involving water supply, placement of machines and staffing are resolved.
“Haemodialysis services in Telupid will make a big difference for kidney patients, as it reduces the need for long journeys to Sandakan and allows us to cover nearby districts like Tongod, Ranau and Paitan,” he said.
Jonnybone said he would continue raising the clinic’s situation with the relevant ministries and agencies, stressing that urgent intervention was needed to prevent further strain on healthcare services in the rural district.
