MINGLING WITH THE PEOPLE: Lee (seated second right) chats with a young patient and her parents during his visit to the 1Malaysia Clinic, witnessed by Dr Faizul (seated right).
MIRI: There is a need for a 1Malaysia clinic to be set up in Permyjaya here to cater for the growing population in the area.
Assistant Minister of Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin in stating this added it will compliment the 1Malaysia clinic in nearby Senadin, which caters to an average of 80 patients a day.
“The 1Malaysia clinic in Senadin not only caters to people from within the area, but also to residents from Permyjaya who come to seek treatment there.
“Apart from Senadin, people from Kuala Baram, Lutong, Tudan and Permyjaya also seek treatment there. The estimated total population for this mentioned areas is 100,000,” said Lee.
He added that the growing number of patients is overwhelming for the clinic, especially at night, public holidays and weekends.
“Even though there is a polyclinic in Permyjaya, it only operates during weekdays and office hours. So at night, the people in these areas will go to the 1Malaysia clinic in Senadin,” he explained.
Lee told reporters this after visiting the Senadin 1Malaysia Clinic yesterday.
He was welcomed at the clinic by Miri Divisional Health Officer Dr Faizul Mansoor.
At the moment, he said, there are only three 1Malaysia Clinics in the city, which are at Taman Tunku and Pujut 3, apart from the one in Senadin.
“The response from the public towards the clinics is quite encouraging and patients here comprise people from all walks of life.
“I will suggest to the Ministry of Health for the inclusion of the Maternity and Child Health Clinic in all 1Malaysia Clinics for the convenience of mothers and pregnant women,” said Lee.
He was this would be appropriate because many pregnant women work during office hours and may have no time to visit the polyclinic during its hours of operation.
“If the 1Malaysia clinics also cater to pregnant women, they can visit the clinic at night without having to leave their workplace during working hours,” he said adding that some mothers have to miss their routine check-up when they cannot leave their workplace.
He hoped the Ministry of Health would make it their priority to include the Maternity and Child Health Clinic when they expand the services of the 1Malaysia Clinic.
The 1Malaysia clinic operates seven days a week, from 10am to 10pm including during public holidays.
On duty during every normal shift are two nurses, a medical assistant, a clinic assistant and a pharmacist.