Sibu Hospital to get first drive-through in the state for medicine pick-ups

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(Seated from fifth right, front) Chua, Abu Hassan and others posing for a photo session.

SIBU: The state’s first ever drive-through (facility) constructed in Sibu Hospital for public to collect medication is expected to be operational by the end of the year.

Sarawak deputy health director (Pharmacy) Abu Hassan Alshaari Abd Jabar said the facility will enable the public to conveniently drive-through to collect their medicine without having to find parking space in the hospital.

He pointed out that this is one of the value-added services for the convenience of the public.

“Sibu Hospital will have a drive-through (facility) (for public) to collect medication – the first in Sarawak,” he told reporters after officiating at the Sarawak World Pharmacists Day 2019 cum Medication Counseling Week at Sing Kwong Supermarket, Jalan Salim here today.

This inaugural state-level celebration was a collaboration among state Health Department’s Pharmaceutical Services Division, Sarawak Pharmaceutical Society and Sarawak Medical Services Union, themed ‘Safe and Effective Medicines For All’.

Meanwhile, event organising chairman Henry Chua said the construction works for the drive-through is expected to be completed by the end of October.

He added that it would take another month to register the patients for this innovative service.

“We expect the drive-through to be fully operational by the end of the year.”

He recounted that there had been complaints from members of the public about difficulty in finding a parking space in the hospital during office hours.

This situation had compelled some to opt to collect their medications in the evening, he pointed out.

“We came up with this innovative solution so that the public need not worry about finding a parking space and skip the hassle of queuing up to collect their medicine,” Chua said.

In this regard, he encouraged the public to make use of this new service.

Abu Hassan also disclosed that for the time being, such services will only be available in Sibu.

Among others, Abu Hassan mentioned that public response to the Pharmacy Value-Added Service (PVAS) has been encouraging.

Various health activities were also provided for the public during the event.

Among those present were Sarawak Pharmaceutical Society president Susan Tang Siew Chin, Sarawak Medical Services Union president Bong Kuek Siong and head of Pharmacy Practice and Development Nor Anizah Osman.