AN ASSESSMENT ON FAULTY PUBLIC HOSPITAL DESIGN IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

Design has a significant impact on building maintenance. Aside from catering to the specific needs of various end users, a hospital building is one of the most complex and heavily used buildings. In Malaysia, the number of public hospitals is increasing because of the increasing population. The purpose of this paper is to determine the factors contributing to problems related to faulty hospital design which have direct implications on public hospital maintenance in Malaysia, and to propose possible solutions to these problems. A survey was conducted in 15 public hospitals located in the Northern Region of Peninsular Malaysia. Thirty respondents from the service provider agreed to participate. The study concludes that faulty hospital design contributes to difficulties in building maintenance. Factors such as inefficiency and inadequate knowledge of the design group lead to their inability to judge or consider the possible factors that could arise during maintenance. In this regard, the design team agrees that increasing their awareness, efficiency, knowledge, and experience is necessary to enhance their expertise in designing hospital buildings. A good coordination between design teams is also necessary to ensure the use of appropriate and suitable materials, as well as a good construction method to enhance the life cycle and value of the buildings.