KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has proposed the setting up of a Primary Healthcare Commission to address outpatient needs.
MMA president Dr. N. Ganabaskaran said a series of events culminating in the unfortunate recent incident at a health clinic reflects the present challenges of providing primary medical care by the government.
“The system is underfunded, leading to dire consequences of overworked doctors and understaffed healthcare facilities.
“Many doctors and nurses are overwhelmed with the excessive burden of unmanageable high patient load.
“There is also inadequate primary care clinics and even consultation rooms to cater for all the patients,” he said in a statement, here today.
Dr Ganabaskaran said MMA proposes that a Primary health care commission be set up by the Government to study ways in which to improve and revamp the service.
He said that working with the 7,000 Health Ministry trained general practitioners would also decongest the outpatient and green zones of public health facilities.
On the same note, he said the public must also be prepared to pay and invest more in healthcare systems to close the gap so that the increasingly complex healthcare needs of all could be met.
“The MMA notes with regret the recent outburst at a public health facility. While only the reaction was highlighted but the action that led to the reaction should also be investigated and the system improved.
“We wish to remind all doctors that professional standards must be maintained at all times, more so in a situation of high stress.
"On the same token, patients and the public must be made aware of the extremely challenging work environment doctors face daily in providing medical service,” he said.
Dr Ganabaskaran said viralling videos or postings on social media that do not reflect the whole situation in its entirety was also unfair and could be seen as defamatory from certain perspectives.
“We urge the public who have grievances towards the medical care they receive to give feedback in a constructive manner and through the official channels so that we can together work towards the betterment of the system,” he said.