Materia Medica Malaysiana

Only 12 docs for 80,000 folks in Beluran

SUGUT: Beluran MP Datuk Ronald Kiandee has urged the Health Ministry to make its agenda to upgrade the existing health facilities in the rural areas throughout the State under the 9th Malaysia Plan.
He pointed out that the rural areas would require more well equipped hospitals and health clinics with sufficient doctors.
Kiandee said this while closing a recent medical camp, organised by the Nangoh Health Clinic, at Kampung Besai here.
He noted that there is a ratio of one doctor for every 6,600 people.
Citing an example, he said only 12 doctors are serving some 80,000 people in the Beluran district alone, and all assigned only to the Beluran hospital, Beluran and Telupid health clinics.
Elsewhere, the patients were being treated only by hospital assistants in six rural clinics - Kampung Tagas-Tagas, Kampung Kolapis, Kampung Jambongan, Kampung Kiabau, Kampung Lingkabau and Kampung Keniongan, he added.