Olympian Brian Sta Maria waits days in emergency for hospital bed
Former Malaysian hockey Olympian Brian Sta Maria has been stuck in the emergency department of a hospital for days while waiting for a bed. His family reports that his condition, complicated by Parkinson's disease and a recent fall, requires urgent care that the facility has been unable to provide due to overcrowding.
Why it matters
The incident highlights critical healthcare infrastructure challenges and bed shortages in public medical facilities, affecting even high-profile citizens.
Former Malaysia hockey internationals Brian Sta Maria (right) and Franco D’Cruz, teammates at the 1972 Olympics and 1975 World Cup, at 2023's Sports Flame, which brought together members of Malaysia’s historic 1975 side. (Sports Flame pic)
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian hockey great Brian Sta Maria has spent days in the emergency unit of Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), waiting for a hospital bed after a fall at his home.
His wife, Elaine Lam, said the Olympian and World Cupper could no longer get up on his own after his condition worsened on Sunday.
“We are not asking for special treatment. We just want him to be properly treated,” she told FMT.
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