MCO: UMMC can post prescriptions to patients outside 10km radius

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PETALING JAYA: Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) can post prescriptions for medication except insulin to outpatients living further than 10km during the movement control order (MCO) period, says hospital director Professor Dr Tunku Kamarul Zaman Tunku Zainol Abidin.

He said on Friday (April 3) that while patients would be sent a new appointment date via SMS, they could also call 03-79492186,03-79492377 or e-mail [e-mail] to get medicine by post.

For blood, urine and phlegm tests, UMMC provides a test notification line during the MCO period where a doctor will contact and inform patients of the test results.

Although UMMC's normal wards and clinics have been closed as it is one of the Covid-19 hospitals treating such cases, Dr Tunku Kamarul said it still accepted patients in emergency cases.

Besides the emergency department, daycare services and antibiotic daycare centres (oncology, haematology and scheduled treatments in various disciplines) would still continue operating until further notice, he said.

Commenting on this, 73-year-old glaucoma patient Tai Lung Aik said that he appreciated that the hospital's corporate communication department had emailed him to say that they would be delivering his medicine to him as he lives in Subang Jaya, which is 13km away from UMMC

"But it was not easy filling up the form as I got rejected a few times and I had to give 'wrong' answers before it was accepted," he said.

However, a UMMC spokesman said that they did not receive any complaints from patients about the difficulties.

Meanwhile, Datuk Dr Ibrahim Wahid said despite the leeway given to patients seeking treatment to go beyond the 10km travel restriction imposed during the MCO, the authorities should give assurance as some cancer patients had postponed their radiotherapy.

The consultant oncologist from a private hospital said that they were afraid they would not be able to get past the police security checkpoints.

"Cancer can progress if it is not checked on time. It is hoped patients needing hospital care will seek treatment.

"Just imagine what would happen if people didn’t go for dialysis, ran out of essential medications or didn;t go for a check-up when they were having chest pains," Dr Ibrahim said, adding that the private hospital he was at would actively test patients who needed admission or Covid-19 treatment.