Consider the plight of an elderly person with disabilities living in a remote village nestled within the dense forests of Sarawak or another underdeveloped region in Malaysia.
This individual may face the daunting task of travelling up to 50 km to reach the nearest hospital. Such scenarios vividly illustrate the severe health care access challenges encountered by rural populations, where the scarcity of nearby medical facilities threatens their well-being and survival.
This alarming disparity in health care access between rural and urban areas underscores the urgent need for comprehensive medical reforms to ensure that all Malaysians, regardless of their location, have equitable access to quality healthcare services.
In Malaysia, the contrast between urban and rural health care provision is striking. Urban areas, characterised by high population densities, are well-served by health care providers.
In contrast, rural regions face significant challenges with limited access to medical care. Recent statistics reveal that approximately 75 per cent of Malaysia’s population resides in urban areas, leaving only 25 per cent in rural regions.
Despite this, rural areas are underserved, with only about 30 per cent of healthcare providers are stationed in these underserved rural areas, where facilities often lack modern equipment necessary for handling emergency cases or complex medical situations.
As a result, rural communities frequently experience significant delays in receiving appropriate care, which exacerbates health disparities between urban and rural populations.
For example, Sungai Pelek, with a population of 67,797, has no hospitals. The local population relies on clinics, as the nearest hospital, a private facility, is situated almost 30 km away.
This journey takes 40 to 45 minutes under optimal conditions, but if traffic congestion occurs, it can extend to over an hour.
For the nearest government hospital, residents must travel to either Banting or Seremban, both of which are at least an hour away if the roads are not congested.
This situation imposes significant hardships on the local population, particularly the elderly, who face considerable difficulties traveling such distances.
Moreover, not all residents own vehicles, and there are no direct public transportation options to these hospitals.
My own experience underscores the urgency of this issue. Thirty years ago, my maternal grandmother was knocked down by a car. She was sent to the local clinic immediately, but the clinic did not have adequate equipment to treat her, and she was referred to the hospital in a larger town.
Due to the delay in receiving proper treatment, my grandmother died from her injuries. Unfortunately, this tragedy is not unique, and has happened repeatedly due to the same issues.
While constructing a hospital in Sungai Pelek may not be immediately feasible, it is crucial for the government to plan for one in the future, considering the area’s increasing population. In the interim, immediate improvements to local clinics are essential.
Enhancing these facilities with better equipment and resources can provide timely and effective care, preventing tragedies akin to the one my family experienced.
In a previous article, I suggested the implementation of telemedicine to address health care access issues in rural areas.
Telemedicine can bridge the gap by providing remote consultations, diagnostics, and follow-ups, thereby reducing the need for travel and ensuring timely medical intervention.
Unfortunately, since then, there has been no significant development in the usage of telemedicine in Malaysia.
It is my view that the Ministry of Health should put more effort into promoting and integrating telemedicine into the healthcare system to ensure that rural populations receive equitable access to quality health care.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
