CJMY
In a bid to deal with overcrowding at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) Emergency and Trauma Department, the Bandar Botanik Health Clinic (Klinik Kesihatan) in Klang is now operating seven days a week, including public holidays.
The extended hours come as part of a pilot project initiated by the Special Task Force on Agency Reform (STAR). The project began on Saturday, and the last patient registration is now at 9 pm.
According to Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, patients with mild symptoms or non-emergency cases are advised to visit the Bandar Botanik Health Clinic instead of HTAR’s Emergency and Trauma Department. She emphasized that the Emergency and Trauma Department should only handle critical emergency cases.
“This is because the Emergency and Trauma Department should only treat serious and critical emergency cases,” said Dr Zaliha during a speech at the Health Ministry’s (MOH) monthly assembly.
To reduce overcrowding and long waiting times at hospitals’ emergency and trauma departments, Dr Zaliha announced the extension of operating hours for selected health clinics in her 2023 New Year’s Message. Health clinics normally operate from 8 am to 5 pm on working days.
Dr Zaliha noted that the pilot project will monitor the change in patient arrival patterns from HTAR’s Emergency and Trauma Department to the Bandar Botanik Health Clinic. She added that this would help the Ministry of Health (MOH) determine a better implementation strategy to deal with overcrowding issues at HTAR’s emergency and trauma department.
“The government is always committed to providing the best health services to the people through the operation of new health facilities,” Dr Zaliha said.
The implementation of the HTAR and Bandar Botanik Health Clinic cluster pilot project is expected to ease congestion at HTAR’s Emergency and Trauma Department and ensure better healthcare services for patients.
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