JOHOR BAHARU: Patients will soon be able to enjoy a more convenient counter service at government outpatient clinics with the introduction of a Queue Management and Appointment Reminder System (QMARS).Through the SMS-based solution developed by Celcom Axiata Berhad, those who have registered and provided their mobile numbers at the clinics, would be notified of their turn for consultation with the doctors or receive a reminder on scheduled appointment or to collect their medication through the short-messaging system (SMS).
The system is expected to alleviate problems of crowded reception areas, long queues, waiting times and also reduce the number of patients who do not show up for their appointments, daily.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai who attended a briefing on the pilot project at the Mahmoodiah Outpatient Clinic here said patients felt more convenient and gave positive feedback on the system.
“After registering themselves, patients can go elsewhere and come back to the clinic after receiving an SMS to alert them of their turn for consultation with the doctor,” Liow said.
He added that the ministry was monitoring the effectiveness of the system, especially to find out whether it can improve the waiting time of patients.
The system, still on a trial run, would be extended to a few more clinics to see the connectivity to the ministry’s headquarters which would enable it to receive information in real time and give commands to the clinics.
“We would launch the system nationwide if the system shows satisfactory results,” he said.
Liow said the system would only be deployed to critically overcrowded clinics in the major cities or towns in the country such as Johor Baharu, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
On the cost of the system and who should bear the SMS cost, he said the matter has yet to be discussed with Celcom.
At the moment, the SMS service was still provided free to the patients, he said. – Bernama