Rural health services a big challenge – Dr Zulkifli

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SIBU: The clinical research centre (CRC) in Sarawak also gives emphasis on public health research besides clinical research.

Stating this yesterday, state Health Department director Dr Zulkifli Jantan said this was because the size of the state, scattered population and inadequate communication infrastructure posed immense challenges to the delivery of equitable health care.

He added that research could provide the information required in overcoming these challenges, and this was where CRC comes in.

“We need to find innovative ways to reach our remote communities so that they can have access to the same, or almost the same, level of health care services enjoyed by our urban communities.

“The health problems in rural areas are also different, and even if they are the same the overall management may have to be different to suit the rural scenario,” he said at the opening ceremony of CRC at Sibu Hospital here last Saturday.

Director of Medical Development Division Datuk Azmi Shafie, represented the director-general of health Datuk Seri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman in the opening ceremony.

Dr Zulkifli added that among the objectives of CRCs was to train more clinicians and health personnel to be investigators and enhance the capabilities of hospitals and clinics to be clinical trial sites.

“With the establishment of CRC in Sibu Hospital, we aim to increase our involvement in research and training activities for central Sarawak.”

Meanwhile, CRC national director Dr Goh Pik Pin said since the establishment of the CRC here, they had handled 21 projects, of which four were industrial sponsored researches.

Dr Goh said research and development would help draw in foreign direct investment (FDI), which is beneficial to the country.

Asked on the cost of setting up the CRC here, which is headed by Dr Toh Teck Hock, she said the amount was minimal.

Goh, however, recalled that for the last 18 months, Pemandu (Performance Management and Delivery Unit) had given substantial amount of money for the purchase of equipment.

“We are thankful to Pemandu for allocating RM7 million (from special budget) to the Ministry of Health to set up the 27 CRCs with equipment, which are quite costly.”