The Sabah Health Department has publicly defended Queen Elizabeth Hospital's (QEH) "zero pending" system, which is designed for efficient patient management at its emergency and trauma department. This defense comes in response to allegations of preferential treatment and staff misconduct within the department. The department emphasized QEH's crucial role as the primary referral center for both Sabah and Labuan, underscoring the necessity of its operational efficiency. The statement did not provide specific details about the allegations but affirmed the hospital's commitment to effective patient care.