Stateless woman, 85, with Covid-19, turned away from Johor public hospital as she lacked IC

A stateless elderly woman residing in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, is in deteriorating condition after she was unable to receive treatment from both public and private hospitals after being diagnosed with the coronavirus.

85-year-old Wang Haolan's health took a sharp turn as her fever rose and heart rate dropped to 40 beats a minute due to the infection.

Wang's daughter Yang Meizhen, 54, also stated that her mother was unable to move and had to rely on assistance for eating and drinking, according to 8world.

However, when they approached a public hospital for treatment, they were turned away as Wang does not hold official identification documents. A private hospital also rejected them because of Wang's coronavirus diagnosis.

Malaysia's healthcare laws state that Malaysian citizens need to produce a MyKad (i.e. national identity card), while foreigners must produce either a red identity card (for Malaysian permanent residents) or a passport for admission to public hospitals.

The Ministry of Health is the main provider of public healthcare in Malaysia, supporting up to 65 per cent of the population for free or at very affordable rates.

Non-Malaysian citizens do not qualify for government-subsidised healthcare, as confirmed by Johor State Health and Environment Committee Chairman Ling Tian Soon.

As she was born in the Riau Islands of Indonesia, Wang previously held a red identity card but it was revoked more than 40 years ago due to unknown reasons, reported The Star.

Despite the family's repeated pleas to the Ministry of Home Affairs and other government agencies, they were unable to restore her identity.

Wang is currently being cared for at home by her family.

Yang told the media that her mother's condition took a sharp turn after the diagnosis, and even though the elderly lady continued to take antipyretic, cold, and cough medicines, they had no significant impact.

Top image by China Press.