KUALA LUMPUR: About 6.59mil people sought treatment from 347 1Malaysia clinics all over the country last year, says the Health Ministry.
The cost of operations for all these clinics was RM119mil for the period, or an average of RM18 per patient, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Lee Boon Chye.
“This is the cost for medicines, reagents and consumables, and does not include operation costs for the manpower and rentals of premises.
“After negotiations with the Finance Ministry and the Public Service Department, 34 of these clinics will be closed, because they are found not to be cost effective,” he told the Dewan Negara on Wednesday (Dec 12) during a Question and Answer session.
Senator Hajah Sabani Mat had asked the Ministry why the Government had shut down a few 1Malaysia clinics, even though it had reduced congestion at hospitals.
Dr Lee said the criteria for the closure of these clinics included less than 40 patients a day, nearby health facilities within 5km of the clinics, not located at People’ Housing Projects (PPR) and received the approval of the state health departments.
The clinics will be rebranded and renamed Community Clinics, he added.
“The closed facilities will not affect health services, because they can get treatment at other facilities nearby,” he said.
The clinics were first launched in 2010 to provide basic medical care for the urban poor in the country.
At present, most 1Malaysia Clinics are run by medical assistants and nurses.-Star
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