Materia Medica Malaysiana

Health Ministry To Upgrade Rural Medical Infrastructure Under 9MP

KAJANG, March 15 (Bernama) -- Using a proposed budget of RM24.5 billion under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), the Health Ministry plans to upgrade the hospital infrastructure in rural areas.
"There some 10 million people living in rural areas and we will upgrade and build more hospitals in rural areas like in Sabah, Sarawak, Terengganu and Pahang because there is a need in these areas," Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek told reporters after visiting the Kajang Hospital.
Built in 1889, it is considered one of the oldest hospitals in the country.
Dr Chua said the ministry had requested for the billion ringgit budget for the next plan, which would stretch from 2006 to 2010, to ensure quality, equitable and accessible health care for all Malaysians.
The focus would be on upgrading infrastructure, including building more community clinics, instead of hospitals.
There are 134 hospitals nationwide with 35 new hospitals built under the 8th Malaysia plan.
Dr Chua said it was pointless to build new hospitals when the country was facing a serious shortage of medical professionals ranging from doctors to nurses and pharmacists.
He said the budget would also be used to upgrade existing district and state hospitals, as studies showed that most of these hospitals were using outdated equipment.
"In most hospitals the equipment are more than 10 years old and they are behind time because of the rapid development in medical technology," he added.
The ministry would also focus on creating awareness on mental health, another threatening illness which is on the rise in the country.
Upgrading of mental institutions and building of half-way-homes for those suffering from mental diseases are in the pipeline.
In addition, human resources development in the medical sector would be given priority under the 9MP.
On another issue, Chua urged Malaysians not to abuse the emergency units in hospitals as this would deprive genuine patients in need of urgent medical treatment.
"Our studies show that 80 per cent of those who go to the emergency units are patients suffering from cold, cough and headache because they can get early treatment and obtain medical leave.
"Emergency treatment is for emergency cases and not for cold cases. It has been abused," he said.