Materia Medica Malaysiana

Increase work ethic in hospitals - Chua

KOTA BHARU Aug 17 - Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng has urged the health sector, especially hospitals, to increase their work ethic in an effort to give the best service to the people of Malaysia.

He said the health sector was facing many new challenges due to high expectations and demands from the people who want a quality and ever-improving health service.

"The attitude of emphasising on service, quality and results should be prioritised. We must remember that quality is ever changing, following the needs of the customers," he said.

Chua's speech celebrating Kota Bharu Hospital (HKB) staff and management in conjunction with it winning the Prime Minister Quality Award (Public Sector) 2002 last year was read by Ministry secretary-general Datuk Alias Ali.

Chua said the health sector needed to be sensitive to technological innovations and its management should be able to change according to the customers' needs by being proactive, creative and thinking positively.

Chua also praised HKB for the various awards which it had won, including the Prime Minister's Award, which was the highest recognition to government agencies and departments for excellent quality management.

HKB was the second hospital to be conferred the award, after the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan received it in 1999, he said.

HKB, which received ISO 9002 certification in 1994, was also accredited by the Malaysia Society for Quality in Health three times since 2000.