Materia Medica Malaysiana

Fast-track lane for old at hospitals

The old, disabled and the very sick can soon cut queues at government hospitals to see the doctor.
This should cheer the nation’s 1.8 million elderly, 200,000 disabled and very ill patients who wait to seek treatment.
Implementation of this long-overdue move to give priority to these patients has begun in some hospitals in Penang, Seremban and Malacca.
The fast-track lane project is in various stages of implementation at several other hospitals.
Datuk Dr Ismail Merican, the director-general of Health, told the New Sunday Times: "These categories of people need immediate care and attention. They cannot be made to wait for hours to see a doctor."
A nursing sister or someone of equivalent rank would seek out such patients.
"The task of (a) nursing sister is only to go round the outpatient department, spot these people and take them through the fast-track lane for immediate treatment," said Dr Ismail.
Commenting on waiting time at hospitals, he said: "I was told that before I took over as director-general, the waiting time for getting medicine at the Selayang Hospital was two hours.
"Now I have been told by friends that it is 10 to 15 minutes. That means that things can be improved."
He said waiting time at most hospitals was about 90 minutes. At some hospitals it was even less.
However, he said waiting time at certain clinics was long. He said hospital staff needed to make only a little effort to ensure people did not wait too long for anything, including collecting medicine.
"I am also concerned about the counter service because that is where most grouses arise. I think courtesy, politeness and respect for one another is important, including respect for other people’s time."