MELAKA: Government healthcare facilities for the people are comparable to those offered by the private sector, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam said yesterday.
He said the people often perceived that private healthcare providers offered better services than government hospitals because medical facilities by the government had to cater to a greater number of people compared to the private sector.
“There is no difference between the government and private healthcare facilities, but with the government facilities having to cater to far more people, there will definitely be a long wait and difficulties faced to serve everyone. The private healthcare providers, with less patients, are able to attend to everyone fast.
“I admit that the need for healthcare facilities is more than what we are capable of providing, but we are faced with financial constraints,” he told a press conference.
Dr Subramaniam had earlier attended the opening of the Seri Tanjung Health Clinic in Tanjung Kling by Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob. Also present was Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron.
The Seri Tanjung Health Clinic, built at a cost of RM19 million, began operations in 2012 and caters to over 30,000 local residents.
Dr Subramaniam said it was estimated that nine out of 10 people in the country sought medical treatment at government clinics or hospitals and the rest were those who could afford to go to private healthcare providers.
“However, should medical costs increase, more people will seek treatment at government clinics and hospitals as the cost will be much lower and, in some cases, free of charge,” he said.
He also said that since June, the ministry had implemented the Domestic Care programme aimed at speeding up the time that patients received treatment at hospitals by providing follow-up treatment at home.
“Patients who were stable and were not suffering from chronic diseases would be allowed to go home earlier and our medical staff will visit them to provide treatment and to train family members in giving them proper healthcare,” he said.
Dr Subramaniam said the programme, implemented in 140 places nationwide, would be expanded further and, hopefully, would reduce the problem of overcrowding at government hospitals. — Bernama