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Did you know fresh flowers aren't allowed in some hospitals wards?

A recent Threads post by user @ujiemapia drew attention to a sign at the National Cancer Institute in Putrajaya informing visitors that fresh flowers are banned in their wards.

"Fresh flowers are prohibited in wards. Patients undergoing chemotherapy have weakened immune systems (immunocompromised). To prevent infection, fresh flowers are not allowed. Thank you for your cooperation," the notice stated.

The reminder has since garnered over 130,000 views, with many Malaysians saying they were unaware of the rule

According to the Ministry of Health's Policies & Procedures on Infection Prevention and Control, flowers and plants are definitely not permitted in hospitals' high-risk wards, such as intensive care units, high dependency wards, oncology wards, and burn units.

Although the guideline does not specify general wards, the restriction is common to protect vulnerable patients.

According to research, this is because flowers and their water can host microorganisms, such as bacteria and mould, that pose a serious infection risk to vulnerable patients with weakened immune systems.

Some people noted that flowers may also trigger allergies among patients or staff.

Visitors are advised to always check with the specific hospital or ward before bringing flowers

If flowers aren't allowed, alternatives such as a small gift basket, a book, a card, or simply showing up to offer support are equally meaningful options.