In September 2012, I wrote THIS article about the future of GPs in this country. I mentioned about the impending expansion of 1Malaysia clinics just before the tabling of Budget 2013 in the Parliament. As expected, more 1Malaysia clinics were announced in the budget. Today the Star  (attached below)reported that 70 more 1Malaysia clinics will be opened in urban areas next year under the so-called ETP. Medical Assistants and nurses will provide “quality” treatment in these clinics, according to our usual “foot in the mouth syndrome” guy. On October 25th, I wrote a post on “GPs in 1Malaysia clinics”. It was later confirmed by newspaper report in the Star , 2 weeks later. It was mentioned that 20 1Malaysia clinics will be opened by end of this year and another 70 next year. Out of 150 1Malaysia clinics operational, 22 already got doctors. With the expanding number of doctors, I am very sure as I predicted before that all 1Malaysia clinics will be occupied by doctors soon.

What is the role of these 1Malaysia clinics when the 1Care system is implemented ? This is a question that I was wondering. Somehow, I feel that the 1care system is slowing being implemented before the official announcement, which is likely to happen after the next general election. Today’s report  (attached below) on the “zoning” of pharmacies is another clear indication that it is inevitable. Once the pharmacy zoning is done, there is a high possibility that GP’s dispensing rights will be taken away as there will be pharmacies in each district and rural areas (please see the highlighted sentences below). The income of many GPs will continue to decline. Would these 1Malaysia clinics be slowly converted to 1Care clinics, providing cheap services to the “poor rakyat” without using their 1Care savings? Only  time will tell.

Now, just when you thought you had enough, our great “foot in the mouth” syndrome guy has come up with a great idea over here (attached below). So, the GPs not only have to compete with other GPs, doctors in KK, public and private hospitals etc but also with Traditional Healers placed at Klinik Kesihatans to provide primary healthcare services which will eventually become part of the 1Care system. Am I delusional ? God save this country……..

With the inevitable surplus of doctors in near future, the impending 1care system and limited post-graduate opportunities, future budding doctors should be aware that there is no such thing as good future, god life and good money in medicine anymore. Never do medicine for these wrong reasons. You will definitely be disappointed. However, you may still earn a decent leaving just like any other profession.

Soon, we may see doctors opening clinics like this :

Happy Holidays…………

More 1Malaysia clinics planned for next year, says Liow

Clinic for all: This picture shows the new 1Malaysia Clinic in USJ1, Subang Jaya.

KLANG: Residents of Pandamaran and its surrounding areas received some good news with the soon-to-be-opened basic healthcare centre under the 1Malaysia Clinic initiative.

The clinic is intended to serve the middle and low income population in the area.

Minister of Health Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the setting up of 1Malaysia Clinics nationwide was a reflection of the Government’s aim to put the people’s interest first, especially those in the middle and low income groups.

“In ensuring the people’s wellbeing and easy access to quality healthcare, a total of 151 1Malaysia clinics are in operation this year nationwide and plans are under way to open another 70 clinics next year.”

“In line with the additional clinics, the rakyat, especially those in the interior areas will not have to concern themselves with access to basic healthcare.

“The clinics will be built in the vicinity of the chosen residential areas,” he said.

1Malaysia Clinics, which is an initiative under the Cost of Living NKRA, are community clinics located strategically around the country and are open daily from 10am to 10pm.

Nurses and medical assistants provide quality treatment for just RM1.

Health Ministry planning ‘zoning’ system for pharmacies

By NICHOLAS CHENG
nicholascheng@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry is looking into a “zoning” system to distribute pharmacies over both urban and rural areas to make it easier for the people to get their medicine.

Pharmaceutical services division director Datuk Eisah A Rahman said a Healthcare Providers’ Mapping Service was in the works to show the distribution of pharmacies.

“With this service, people will know the location of the pharmacy nearest to the hospital or clinic they have visited.

“More importantly, it can assist health policy makers in implementing the zoning of pharmacies to ensure equitable distribution and access to medicine for the public,” she said.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said there seemed to be an inequitable distribution of pharmacies, as there were more outlets in urban areas than in rural places.

Ministry statistics show that there are 10,006 registered pharmacists and 1,834 pharmacies in the country.

The concentration is in Selangor (where there are 433 pharmacies), Penang (213), Kuala Lumpur (201) and Johor (157).

About 1,000 new pharmacists are registered each year.

“Currently, the ratio of pharmacists to the population in Malaysia is 1:3,181 people.

“This is not far from the optimum ratio of 1:2,000 people set by the World Health Organisation.

“But most of them are situated in urban areas,” said Liow.

He called on the pharmaceutical community to open more outlets in less concentrated areas.

According to the Malaysian Community Pharmacists Association, about 30 rural districts in the country are without a private community pharmacy.

It said 49% of private doctors in the country as well as 54% of private pharmacists and 55% of private hospitals and nursing or maternity homes are based in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Johor.

Health Ministry looking at policies for traditional medicine use in primary healthcare

By RAHIMY RAHIM

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is developing policies to integrate traditional health medicine services into the primary healthcare.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said discussions had been held with Asean countries to produce comprehensive and effective regulations for implementation in the primary healthcare sector.

“Previously, such services are only provided in hospitals.

“It is time for us to introduce them at the primary healthcare as it is an effective preventative measure,” he told a press conference after launching the 4th Conference on Traditional Medicine in ASEAN countries on Monday.

It was reported 11 government hospitals in the country were offering traditional medicine alongside modern medicine.

Among them are Kepala Batas Hospital (Penang), Sultan Ismail Hospital (Johor Baharu), Putrajaya Hospital, Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (Kuala Terengganu), Duchess of Kent Hospital (Sandakan, Sabah), Sarawak General Hospital (Kuching), Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (Alor Setar), Port Dickson Hospital, Sultanah Hajah Kalsom Hospital (Cameron Highlands) and Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital (Kota Baru).