PENANG, May 6 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry Friday directed all government hospitals in the country to immediately establish a fast lane for outpatient treatment of old people, pensioners and those who require immediate medical attention.
Director General of Health Datuk Dr Ismail Merican said it was discourteous to make these people, especially the old, to wait too long for treatment.
Hospitals would station a staff at every lane to inspect the appointment card of patients to ensure that those who were gravely ill were given priority for treatment, he told reporters after making a courtesy call on Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon here.
Dr Ismail said the directive was to help enhance the health delivery system at the 124 hospitals and six health institutes in the country, and added that several hospitals were already practising the system.
He also said that hospitals should give priority to emergency cases, including at the dental clinics, and should not postpone treatment.
"If there is a genuine emergency case, treatment must administered immediately and the individual should not be asked to return on another date.
"But there are cases of people with a cough going to the emergency section; such cases cannot be considered as emergency cases," he said.
Dr Ismail said all directors of hospitals had been instructed to make surprise visits to the outpatient department, pharmacy, emergency unit and wards to monitor developments.
He said government hospitals had good infrastructure and trained medical specialists but, sometimes, a lack of communication caused various problems related to the health service.
"Right now we face the challenge of not only diseases but also our capability to provide service to clients, and the clients' demand for an efficient and effective health system," he said.
In this connection, he advised staff of the ministry to emphasise three important aspects -- professionalism, teamwork and caring attitude -- as a means of enhancing the standard of service to clients.
Dr Ismail also said that doctors should wear a white shirt and name tag when on ward rounds to avert any confusion among patients.
"As a means of promoting the ministry's branding, they should equip themselves with knowledge, provide valid ideas and feedback at meetings, have integrity and display a pleasant disposition," he said.
Dr Ismail said his visit to Penang was the first of several visits to all parts of the country to deliver this message to all staff of the ministry.
He said the health service in Penang was a draw in terms of health tourism and that about 45 per cent of the tourists to the state came for medical treatment.
-- BERNAMA
Finally, but it is always better late than never. And nevertheless it took a new unprecedented DG of Health to do it. The creation of a green lane for the elderly and pensioners. Finally i am able to enjoy the MOH fast lane, hopefully this will result in a shorter wait. But in Malaysia Boleh, many may just take advantage of this fast lane by claiming to be older than they really are. We will just have to see, whether those really pensioned and elderly will benefit.
What surprises me is the figure our new DG quoted for medical tourists in Penang, 45%, can this be true? The aesthetic surgeons in Penang must be having a good time with their boob jobs, nose jobs and face lifts!
What surprises me is the figure our new DG quoted for medical tourists in Penang, 45%, can this be true? The aesthetic surgeons in Penang must be having a good time with their boob jobs, nose jobs and face lifts!
No comments:
Post a Comment