Towns to get mobile clinics

Mobile clinics will be introduced in densely populated areas, notably Kuala Lumpur, in a further effort to bring health services to the people's doorsteps.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the clinics, which would be manned by teams of four, might even conduct basic tests and perform minor surgeries.
He said the ministry was studying the possibility of equipping the clinics with the necessary laboratory equipment.
“The mobile clinic service in towns is a new concept aimed at expanding the scope of services, which now only exists in the rural areas.
“It can play a useful role in densely populated areas, such as Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya and Cheras,” he told newsmen after visiting the Kerteh Health Clinic here yesterday.
He said the service was also necessary as there was a lack of space in towns to build proper health clinics.
The ministry will introduce 26 such clinics next year, 26 in 2007 and 30 in 2008. An allocation of RM6mil has been set aside for the purpose.
Dr Chua also spoke out on the shoddy workmanship and delays in the completion of new hospitals.
“All hospital construction projects have been classified as sick projects,” he said.
His comments came following a revelation that two operating theatres at Kemaman Hospital in Chukai had to be shut down nine months after being commissioned due to defects.
The defects included rainwater seeping into the theatres and leaking air-conditioning ducts.
In his briefing, state health deputy director Dr Anwa Sulaiman said the RM13.8mil complex was opened in July last year and closed in April.
Dr Chua said the Treasury, and not his ministry, appointed the contractors.
In Selangor, Dr Chua said non-medical practitioners, such as nurses and medical assistants, would be made hospital directors to give doctors more time to treat patients.
“Right now, doctors who are also hospital directors only see patients 10 hours a week.
“They can treat more patients if they are relieved of administrative work,'' he said after visiting the Kuala Kubu Baru Hospital.
Dr Chua said the move would be implemented in stages.
On another matter, Dr Chua said the ministry would be meeting ulama and the National Fatwa Council on Aug 11 to discuss the implementation of the needle and condom HIV/AIDS prevention programme.
Source