Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Amidst MMC’s claim that the 1Malaysia clinics are illegal, the Health minister says this:
“Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had said all the 1Malaysia clinics would open daily and be manned by a nurse and a medical assistant.
He said they were allowed to give medicine to patients for minor ailments like fever and cough but would refer more serious cases to clinics or hospitals.
So, is this acceptable or still illegal in the eyes of the law? Any qualified people can clarify?
The public are quite happy with the idea of 1Malaysia clinic because they can access easily and with less cost.
In estates, the clinic is only manned by MO and a nurse. They understand their limitation and their job is only to dispense medicine for minor problems or attend to simple medical complaints.
MMC obviously worried about its ricebowl and not really people’s welfare (if you read KL Quek’s full letter).
I am sure everyone of us have a story or two where the doctor misdiagonised or gave wrong medicine.
Hi Killer,
Its MA, not MO.
So, we are like what the guy said, going back to old times, as in “estate life” environment? There’s a big trust needed if we are to say “They understand their limitation and their job is only to dispense medicine for minor problems or attend to simple medical complaints”. That also means its like in normal govt hospitals where there’s a triage section (i’m not sure if its the correct word) where some staff (non-doctor) does preliminary diagnosis, but no medicine given out. you get the medicine after been seen by the doctor.
MMC seems to ask now why different rules for private sector and govt sector. can private clinics employ MA and nurse, and run the clinic without doctors? sounds like a fair question.
And there’s also valid question on how well can the staff diagnose a symptom as simple problem or signs of a more dangerous disease. Perhaps need to have more equipments to check the patient.
If a doctor does wrong, you can take much more action via MMC. But if a MA or nurse goes wrong, govt gets sued i guess.