SINGAPORE - Sengkang General Hospital (SKH) said it prioritises patients in emergency cases over the less serious ones, after an inpatient complained on TikTok that he had to buy painkillers via Foodpanda after waiting for almost two hours at the hospital for the medicine.

In a Facebook post on Monday, SKH said it was aware that a TikTok video of a patient ordering Panadol via the food delivery app was circulating online as a result “of an alleged lack of promptness by the hospital in addressing his needs”.

Addressing the allegation, SKH said it would like to assure the public that the patient’s care team has “rendered the appropriate care” based on his condition.

“SKH is committed to attending to every patient in a timely manner,” it added. “Patients with less acute conditions may sometimes experience longer waiting times compared to those who are being treated for serious urgent and life-threatening emergencies.”

In a TikTok video posted by user Jombadok last week, he claims that he has waited for his painkillers for almost two hours before he decided to order via Foodpanda. The reason for his hospitalisation is not explained.

“Can you imagine, (I’m) asking for Panadol and I cannot get the medicine from a first-world hospital...it is really ridiculous,” he said.

Filming himself collecting his painkillers from a Foodpanda delivery rider at the lobby, he tells the rider, who appears surprised, about his situation. Jombadok did not say how long it took for his delivery to arrive.

He adds that it is his first time warded at SKH and he will be discharging against medical advice the next day because he is unable to get medication from the hospital.

“No point, I might as well (stay) at home. I have...