Doctors also have family and financial commitments and, “for the sake of their sanity”, need work-life balance that has been non-existent for most in public health care.
Dr Zaliha Mustafa says 70% of emergency room visits are non-critical cases that can be treated at public health clinics; most clinics currently operate from 8am to 5pm.
Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa announces a MySejahtera appointment system at public primary care facilities for 2023. But Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim hasn’t announced if the government has procured the app, or how much payment has or will be made.
An emergency medicine doctor says building new public hospitals is not the solution to overcrowded emergency departments, but that Malaysia must focus on preventive health and primary care.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), an oral medicine taken to prevent getting HIV from sex or injection drug use, will be dispensed at public health clinics in Selangor, Klang Valley, Johor, Penang, and Sabah.
Khairy Jamaluddin explains that patients with chronic conditions needing further treatment are diverted to Kota Damansara or Sungai Buloh because Klinik Kesihatan Paya Jaras lacks labs. He pledges a bigger clinic for Paya Jaras if elected as Sungai Buloh MP.
Paya Jaras assemblyman Mohd Khairuddin Othman, while stumping for PH’s Sungai Buloh candidate Ramanan Ramakrishnan, says he has received many complaints about Klinik Kesihatan Paya Jaras diverting patients to Klinik Kesihatan Kuang, more than 5km away.
One fire occurred at Klinik Kesihatan Parit Baru two weeks ago, and another fire took place at Klinik Kesihatan Desa Sepintas on September 21. The causes of both incidents are still under investigation.
Ong Kian Ming says the Sistem Janji Temu Klinik KKM app -- with a 1.2 rating in over 1,000 reviews, among the poorest of all government apps -- should be replaced with similar appointment booking apps that already work in the private health care system.
The Malaysian Medical Association and Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society propose that MOH work together with GPs and community pharmacies to reduce the burden at public health clinics.