Goh pointing out the location of the planned medicine counter at Pasir Pinji Health Clinic. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star
PASIR Pinji Health Clinic in Ipoh will soon have a separate counter for patients to collect their medicines without having to wait in line for hours.
Pasir Pinji assemblyman Goh See Hua said the “walk-through” pharmacy concept would enable the clinic to be less congested.
He had allocated RM50,000 for the setting up of the counter, to build wheelchair friendly ramps, upgrade drains and do some repair works at the doctor’s room.
“We are hoping for all the repairs and upgrades to be completed before year-end.
“Once the counter is up, patients need to download MyUbat application, make an appointment and come and collect their medicines on the given date,” he told reporters during a visit to the clinic.
Goh said both he and Ipoh Timur MP Howard Lee had asked the Health Ministry for a bigger allocation to upgrade the clinic.
Pasir Pinji is one of the areas under Ipoh Timur constituency.
Goh added, “There is no news as yet from the ministry on our request to transform the clinic into a double-storey building, and for further extension of the clinic.
“So while we are waiting for that project to come through, I decided to use my constituency allocation to carry out the works first to ease congestion.
Patients in the clinic. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star
“There are between 500 and 800 patients visiting the clinic daily and the majority of them are senior citizens. It is very congested.”
T. Jureskumar, 24, who works at an old folks home, said the idea of having a dedicated medicine counter was good.
“I often take senior citizens from the home to the clinic for check-ups and blood tests.
“With the counter, the senior citizens need not wait and I can always come and collect the medicines later,” he said.
Shamsiah Marang, 65, said she went to the clinic twice a month for her check-up and blood test.
“I am usually at the clinic for two hours. I am happy that the counter will be open soon.
“That way my son will be able to collect the medicines later and I can also go home straight after my check-up,” she added.
Hew Koh Ching, 69, said he had to wait more than an hour each time he came to the clinic.
“For old people like us, waiting for so long can be frustrating. However, I also understand that there are a lot of patients at the clinic.
“Small efforts like setting up a counter for patients to collect their medicines at another time is good to reduce waiting times,” he added.
