Follow-up plan at private clinics to ease congestion in public hospitals

The Star PUCHONG: Patients at government hospitals may soon be able to go for follow-up treatment at private clinics near their homes.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said this was to ease congestion in public hospitals and make it more convenient for these patients.

He said the move would not only cut down waiting time, it would also free up public hospitals for more serious cases.

“If, say, someone went for surgery in a public hospital, he would need to see a doctor to check the stitches, or monitor possible side effects.

“Normally, patients would have to go to a government hospital for follow-up (treatment) but we are trying to take the innovative approach and send them to private general practitioners near their homes,” he said at a community health awareness programme here.

While the study was still in its preliminary stage, the exercise should not cost the Government much, he said.

“Every time a patient goes to any public hospital for a check-up, it still costs us money.

“So why not pass the patient and the cost to a private GP? It should cost the goverment the same amount,” he said.

Liow urged the public not to dwell too much on the cost, saying that it would be “futile in the discussion to innovate healthcare service”.

“Let's focus on the services that we can provide to minimise cost in all sectors,” he added.

He also announced that the Government had approved the setting-up of a health clinic in Bandar Kinrara 5 here.

This is in addition to two government clinics in Batu 6 and Batu 14, respectively.

The clinic, which will be part of the third rolling plan in the 10th Malaysia Plan next year, will serve 500,000 residents in Puchong.

Puchong MCA division chairman Datuk Wong Hock Aun said the public clinic in the army barracks nearby closed down in 2007.

As such, the two other clinics in the area are bursting at the seams. With the booming population in Puchong, low- and middle-income earners need an additional facility, he said.

“We have been writing to the Health Ministry about this and hope to have a clinic by next year,” added Wong.