Materia Medica Malaysiana

Nurses To Be Trained To Handle Follow-Up Treatment For Chronic Patients

YAN, May 5 (Bernama) -- Nurses will soon be given specialised training to handle the follow-up treatment of patients suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the nurses would be trained in batches and they were expected to begin taking care of such patients in six months time.
He said follow-up treatment had so far been provided by doctors but their heavy workload did not allow them to give the patients the proper attention and care that they needed.
"Diabetes and hypertension patients require specialised attention from the aspects of examination, adherence to a proper diet, taking of medicines prescribed for their illnesses, and following a healthy lifestyle," he told reporters during a visit to Yan Hospital, Thursday.
Dr Chua said developed countries were using nurses to perform this duty and the practice had definitely reduced the workload of doctors.
He pointed out that 30 per cent of the patients in the outpatient sections of government hospitals comprised diabetes and hypertension patients seeking follow-up treatment.
Dr Chua said patients placed under the care of the specially trained nurses would only go back to their doctors should their illness develop any complication.
"The ministry hopes that this measure will reduce overcrowding in the outpatient sections and the workload of doctors while ensuring more better care for the patients," he said.