COMMENT | The Health Ministry appreciates the concerns raised by the writer of the letter "An open letter to the health minister" published online on Dec 18. The ministry always welcomes constructive feedback from the public to improve the quality of healthcare services in our facilities nationwide.
Regardless whether a medical practice is run publicly or privately, waiting times at a clinic will vary according to the location, workload and resources of that health facility.
Low rates of medical charges, accessibility, convenience and the availability of a wide range of services contribute to the high attendance rates at government health facilities.
On the other hand, a proportion of our population seek healthcare from private health practitioners due to a variety of reasons, including personal preference, comfort, and access to certain specialised high-end treatments.
While not denying that the issue of long waiting time at clinics is a bane for patients, it is regrettable that the writer has unjustly made assumptions that long queues exist due to deliberate inaction of doctors who are not bothered to look for a solution, and he even goes further to state that perhaps the longer the queue, the greater the doctors' fame.
I wish to record that while the welfare of patients is of utmost importance, the public need to acknowledge the presence of many hardworking, sincere and capable doctors in both the public and private healthcare sectors who often go beyond their regular scope of duty in looking for ways to improve service delivery to patients.
Teething issues, such as long waiting times at a clinic, are bound to arise from time to time despite various efforts and measures already being undertaken. However, to be proficient, we must work hand in hand and be part of the solution, rather than focusing just on the problems.
The ministry on its part has embarked on several strategies and initiatives to reduce long waiting times and overcrowding in government health facilities.
These include the staggered appointment system; Lean management; cluster hospitals; eMasa (waiting time monitoring system); express lanes for the elderly, persons with disabilities, children and emergencies; extended clinic hours and service continuity during lunch breaks in selected clinics; pharmacy value-added-services; and electronic medical registration and patient management such as the Tele Primary Care System (TPC) in our government clinics.
With that being said, I am sure that the private healthcare facilities across the country will also have various measures in place, including a queue management system tailored to their specific needs in order to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience for patients.
We will continue to strive in providing the best healthcare for all in Malaysia, leaving no one behind.
However, the health fraternity cannot do this alone. It will require a multi-sectoral commitment to improve the well-being of all Malaysians.
However, it also starts with you, as individuals and productive members of the community to be accountable for your health, as prevention is always better than cure.
DR DZULKEFLY AHMAD is the health minister.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
