Closure of 33 1Malaysia Clinics among three final reports to be tabled to Cabinet, says Dzulkefly

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The final reports on three thrust issues concerning the Health Ministry will be tabled at the next Cabinet meeting, said its minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

The three reports are pertaining to the revamp of the 1Malaysia Clinics, sexual harassment cases involving graduate medical officers (PPS) and proposed increase in the rate of consulting fees of medical practitioners and doctors for services in private hospitals and clinics.

Dr Dzulkefly said based on the proposals, 33 out of the 346 1Malaysia Clinics nationwide would be closed in stages after the issue is being brought to the Cabinet.

"The balance of the 1Malaysia Clinics will be revamped as Community Clinics with several new changes, including assigning medical officers, pharmacists and nurses at every clinic," he told reporters after launching the National Dental Health Promotion Week 2018 at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall Square on Sunday (Sept 2).

Dr Dzulkefly also stressed that the closure of the 33 clinics would not affect the health delivery service to the people in their vicinity as there were nearby KKM health facilities (hospital and health clinics). 

On the sexual harassment case, Dr Dzulkefly said KKM was awaiting the final report from the Independent Investigation Committee to investigate the case to be tabled to the Cabinet next week.

He said the recommendations in the report would be taken into account to ensure the issue could be under control and not recur.

On the proposed increase in the rate of consultation fees in private hospitals and clinics, Dr Dzulkefli said the revision would be tabled to the Cabinet before any decision is made.

Prior to this, Health deputy director-general (Medical) Datuk Dr Azman Abu Bakar said the paper on the proposed revision of consultation fee charges, which was submitted to Dr Dzulkefly, recommended an increase of between RM35 and RM125 from RM10 and RM35.

The increase was agreed to at a town hall session on "Stakeholders Consultation on the Proposed Revision of General Practitioners' Charges", held at the Health Ministry in Putrajaya, recently.

Meanwhile, he said the National Health Morbidity Survey 2017 had revealed an alarming finding that nine of 10 adult Malaysians suffered from gum disease. - Bernama