Malaysian clinic gets overwhelming response
By Koi Kye Lee and Melissa Darlyne Chow
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Many people have been seeking treatment at the Kerinchi 1Malaysia clinic here since its launch on Thursday.
There were more than 75 patients yesterday alone, most of them children.
A patient, Zainab Imam Din, 77, said she walked to the clinic because it was near her house.
"I am happy that the clinic is near my house. I also did not have to wait too long for my turn," said Zainab, who also praised the clinic for its efficiency.
The clinic provides services like check-ups for common illnesses such as headaches, fever, cough, asthma and conjunctivitis.
The clinic's assistant medical officer, Iszuan Cabrini Muhamad, said that due to the overwhelming response from the residents and those in the neighbouring areas, some medicines like cough syrups and ear drops were out of stock.
Iszuan added that most of the patients sought treatment for common sicknesses such as cough and fever.
"The only emergency case that we encountered was before the official launch where a pregnant woman came with certain complications.
"However, in such cases we usually refer the patient to the hospital immediately."
Meanwhile, Danish Chai, 33, who brought his 5-year-old daughter to the clinic, felt it should be ever ready with new supply of medicines.
"The environment in the clinic is very good and it is convenient for the residents in the neighbourhood.
"But they have to be prepared with extra supply of medicines because of the response the clinic is receiving."
In George Town, patients from all walks of life have been going to the two 1Malaysia clinics on the island - in Jelutong and Sungai Ara.
In the busy part of Jelutong, which serves the urban poor of the northeast district, the clinic has seen more than 40 patients since it opened on last Wednesday.
Senior assistant medical officer E. Kalimuthu has been kept busy since the launch of the clinic.
Assisting him are medical treatment assistant Lim Guat Hong and public health nurse Rohayu Mohd Adnan.
Kalimuthu's check-up room is what he would call a "one- stop centre", where he sees the patients and it also has a pharmacy corner.
He said the clinic was set up at a shoplot in Jalan Jelutong to cater to the urban poor living in the area.
"Patients can come in, register, get themselves checked and get their medicines -- all within 15 minutes," he said yesterday at the clinic.
So far, the patients he has seen came with complaints such as body aches, mild injuries, headaches, fever, sore throat, cough and mild abdominal pains.
"There were also those who asked for their blood pressure and glucose levels to be checked."
For more serious cases, he said they would provide basic emergency treatment before referring them to Penang Hospital.
Kindergarten teacher Ang Ah Hwa, 50, who had cough and flu, said she decided to come to the clinic as it was open during the weekend.
"The consultation fees are also very low."
The clinic in Sungai Ara had seen some 25 patients since it opened on Thursday.
Public health nurse Erlly Kasmuni said the low number of patients was probably due to a lack of awareness of the clinic's existence, noting that the number might increase after a month.
Senior assistant medical officer Lim Tay Sun and medical treatment assistant Roshida Mat Tahir are the other two staff in the clinic, situated in a shoplot in Tingkat Kenari 5.
Retiree Nathan Subramaniam, 61, who was the first patient at the clinic yesterday, said he came to the clinic as it was near his house. He came to seek treatment for flu and cough.http://health.asiaone.com/Health/New...10-190809.html
By Koi Kye Lee and Melissa Darlyne Chow
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Many people have been seeking treatment at the Kerinchi 1Malaysia clinic here since its launch on Thursday.
There were more than 75 patients yesterday alone, most of them children.
A patient, Zainab Imam Din, 77, said she walked to the clinic because it was near her house.
"I am happy that the clinic is near my house. I also did not have to wait too long for my turn," said Zainab, who also praised the clinic for its efficiency.
The clinic provides services like check-ups for common illnesses such as headaches, fever, cough, asthma and conjunctivitis.
The clinic's assistant medical officer, Iszuan Cabrini Muhamad, said that due to the overwhelming response from the residents and those in the neighbouring areas, some medicines like cough syrups and ear drops were out of stock.
Iszuan added that most of the patients sought treatment for common sicknesses such as cough and fever.
"The only emergency case that we encountered was before the official launch where a pregnant woman came with certain complications.
"However, in such cases we usually refer the patient to the hospital immediately."
Meanwhile, Danish Chai, 33, who brought his 5-year-old daughter to the clinic, felt it should be ever ready with new supply of medicines.
"The environment in the clinic is very good and it is convenient for the residents in the neighbourhood.
"But they have to be prepared with extra supply of medicines because of the response the clinic is receiving."
In George Town, patients from all walks of life have been going to the two 1Malaysia clinics on the island - in Jelutong and Sungai Ara.
In the busy part of Jelutong, which serves the urban poor of the northeast district, the clinic has seen more than 40 patients since it opened on last Wednesday.
Senior assistant medical officer E. Kalimuthu has been kept busy since the launch of the clinic.
Assisting him are medical treatment assistant Lim Guat Hong and public health nurse Rohayu Mohd Adnan.
Kalimuthu's check-up room is what he would call a "one- stop centre", where he sees the patients and it also has a pharmacy corner.
He said the clinic was set up at a shoplot in Jalan Jelutong to cater to the urban poor living in the area.
"Patients can come in, register, get themselves checked and get their medicines -- all within 15 minutes," he said yesterday at the clinic.
So far, the patients he has seen came with complaints such as body aches, mild injuries, headaches, fever, sore throat, cough and mild abdominal pains.
"There were also those who asked for their blood pressure and glucose levels to be checked."
For more serious cases, he said they would provide basic emergency treatment before referring them to Penang Hospital.
Kindergarten teacher Ang Ah Hwa, 50, who had cough and flu, said she decided to come to the clinic as it was open during the weekend.
"The consultation fees are also very low."
The clinic in Sungai Ara had seen some 25 patients since it opened on Thursday.
Public health nurse Erlly Kasmuni said the low number of patients was probably due to a lack of awareness of the clinic's existence, noting that the number might increase after a month.
Senior assistant medical officer Lim Tay Sun and medical treatment assistant Roshida Mat Tahir are the other two staff in the clinic, situated in a shoplot in Tingkat Kenari 5.
Retiree Nathan Subramaniam, 61, who was the first patient at the clinic yesterday, said he came to the clinic as it was near his house. He came to seek treatment for flu and cough.http://health.asiaone.com/Health/New...10-190809.html
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