Govt to evaluate and upgrade Klinik 1Malaysia by year-end

PUTRAJAYA: The government is set to rebrand Klinik 1Malaysia (K1M) outlets nationwide by upgrading them to "Klinik Kommuniti" by year-end, according to Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He said at present the 246 K1M outlets throughout the country will be subject to evaluation on whether the clinic will receive the upgrade or be shuttered down.
"The K1M will needs (to) fulfill certain criteria such as the size of the premise being larger 1,400 sq/ft with ample space for medical officers service and a pharmacy.
"While patient arrivals should be at least 30 to 50 per day depending on location and demographics," he told reporters at the Health Ministry, here today.
Addressing the present woes of the K1M, which lack medical officers and pharmacy staff, Dzulkefly said the issue is being addressed with this initiative.
"This effort is to ensure that the health quality services offered at K1M will be improved significantly with the upgrade," he said.
When asked on the cost of the rebranding exercise, Dzulkefly said he is uncertain but estimated it will be between RM5 million and RM10 million, with the yearly costs to maintain the clinics to range between RM3 million to RM4 million.
"The rebranding which will done in phases could take between three to six months depending on when the budget for the exercise is approved.
"I would also like to assure all K1M staff that their jobs will not be affected.
"We will absorb them into Klinik Kommuniti upon the rebranding," he added.
The K1M is an initiative by the previous Barisan Nasional-led government to provide the people with light treatment for ailments such as fever and cold, as well as minor wounds.
Since it's inception in 2010, yearly patient admissions nationwide increased from 1.3 million initially to 6.59 million by 2017.