KUCHING: The merging or closing down of healthcare clinics in the rural areas that receive few patients is not a practical option, said Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Dr Sim, who recently had a meeting with the Ministry of Health (MoH), said poor public response to certain healthcare clinics was among the issues in Sarawak raised by the ministry.
“Fewer people are going to certain hospitals and clinics in the rural areas and MoH suggests closing down these facilities. I don’t think that should be the way because it is important for the rural people to have access to healthcare services,” he said during the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sarawak Branch 47th anniversary dinner at Imperial Hotel on Saturday.
Dr Sim said the clinics should not be merged because the rural areas were big and it might be far for the people in certain areas to reach the nearest clinic.
“When MoH looks at the data, it sees so many medical staff are employed but only five to 10 people turn up at the rural clinics.
“So, we need to relook and decide whether the clinics should open on certain days or we go mobile,” he pointed out.
Dr Sim added there might be a need to create a new criterion for Category 8 clinics in Sarawak. These clinics, he explained, would operate for three days, for example, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The minister said with the increasing population in Kuching, the people in the city did not want another general hospital.
“For Kuching to move forward, we all need specialised hospitals. We do not need another general hospital because there is limit to equipment and workers,” he said.
Dr Sim added Sarawak doctors were capable of delivering their services if they were given the opportunity to serve.
