Patient waited two hours for painkillers at SKH, ended up buying one from Foodpanda instead

SINGAPORE — Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) responded to a patient’s TikTok video in which he claimed to have waited nearly two hours for painkillers at the hospital, leading him to order them through Foodpanda.

In a Facebook post on Monday (Sept 18), SKH acknowledged the viral TikTok video and assured the public that the patient’s care team had provided appropriate care based on his condition.

“SKH is committed to attending to every patient in a timely manner,” it added.

“In the case of a new admission, all medications must be approved by the doctor for patient safety and ordered through the system for record purposes.”

In their statement, SKH underscored their dedication to providing prompt care to patients and clarified that individuals with less severe conditions might encounter extended waiting periods in contrast to those facing critical and life-threatening emergencies.

Patient bought Panadol from Foodpanda

@jombadok

Cannot get Panadol at Sengkang Hospital #viraltiktok #viraltiktoksg #sgtiktok #fypシ #fyp #viral

♬ original sound – Jom Badok Nation – Jom Badok Nation

In the video, he recorded himself retrieving the painkillers from a Foodpanda delivery rider within the hospital’s lobby.

He then informed the rider, who appeared taken aback by his circumstances.

The specific duration of time it took for his delivery to arrive was not mentioned.

Furthermore, he mentioned that it was his first time being admitted to SKH, and he intended to leave the hospital against medical recommendations the following day because he couldn’t obtain the necessary medication from the hospital.

“No point. I might as well (stay) at home. I have my painkillers at home… (the hospital) is a let-down,” he said in the video.

According to The Straits Times, Hamid was hospitalized on September 11 due to gangrene and an ulcer on his right heel.

He recounted that around 8 PM, he experienced a sharp pain in his right heel and requested painkillers from the nursing staff.

However, it appeared that they were occupied at the time, resulting in an extended wait of up to two hours for his pain relief.

It was during this extended wait that he made the decision to order Panadol from Foodpanda.

Contrary to what he stated in his video, Hamid ultimately did not seek early discharge because he recognized that he still needed to undergo several additional medical tests.

He eventually received the required medical attention and was discharged from the hospital on 15 September.

SKH also clarified that all medications for new admissions must be approved by doctors for patient safety and recorded within the hospital’s system.

Despite his initial frustration, Hamid later expressed understanding of the hospital’s procedures and praised the nurses for their assistance.

“In hindsight, SKH is not that bad. The nurses have been very helpful and they’ve also explained that I cannot anyhow take medicine from outside the hospital.

I understand that they also need to wait for the doctor’s approval before they can administer the medication to me,” said Hamid.

He will soon undergo a gangrene operation to amputate one toe.

SKH expressed regret that the patient did not have a comfortable experience but affirmed its commitment to patient safety and efficient care delivery.