Rural areas to get more clinics

Star: JOHOR BARU: The number of rural polyclinics and community clinics will be increased by 5% under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek.
He said more mobile clinics would also be set up to serve both urban and rural residents.
“Forty percent of our population are in the rural areas where there are 865 polyclinics and 1,900 community clinics.
“It is undeniable that there are still areas where residents do not get satisfactory medical services,” he told reporters after visiting a polyclinic in Tongkang Pechah, Batu Pahat.
Dr Chua said people in rural areas should also enjoy good medical services, just like those in towns and cities.
“However, many rural polyclinics have not been maintained or upgraded.
“So, under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, we want to improve and upgrade the clinics in the rural areas, such as upgrading some community clinics to polyclinics.
“This is because some clinics can no longer cope with the rising number of patients,” he added.
Dr Chua said the Tongkang Pechah polyclinic would receive RM150,000 to improve their services and for such equipment as blood and urine analysers.
However, he said it was pointless to have good facilities without the necessary personnel; many doctors and nurses prefer to be posted in urban areas.
“For example, the positions for doctors in urban areas are 80% filled, but it is only 60% in the rural areas,” he said.
“As such, those who have served in rural areas will be given preference when they apply to further their studies.”