Health ministry suggests private hospitals to set up mobile clinics

KUALA SELANGOR: The Health Ministry today suggested private hospitals to set up mobile clinics to provide free health checks for the rural community.
Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the mobile clinic could be carried out under their respective corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.
"Through the mobile clinics, they can contribute their service to those living in the rural areas and in villages.
"It is also an effort to overcome over-crowding at existing health clinics congestion apart from helping the rural community to get early treatment without them having to go to the clinic, which is normally far from their home," he told reporters after opening the Sutera Mobile Clinic, which is run by Avisena Specialist Hospital through Avisena Foundation.
Also present was Avisena Foundation chairman Datuk Ibrahim Md Yusof.
Dzulkefly said he believed that the presence of mobile clinics would encourage, as well as enhance awareness of, the rural community to go for health checks, thus helping to detect illness at an early stage.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim said the Sutera Mobile Clinic was equipped with basic medical facilities and manned by a doctor and nurses.
The mobile clinic offers out-patient treatment for fever, cough and flu, as well as basic monitoring of chronic diseases like for high blood, diabetes and asthma ," he said.
He said the Sutera Mobile Clinic would offer free health checks every Sunday from 10am to 3pm at nine locations according to turn.
They include at Kampung Rinching Hulu, Baranang; Sungai Gulang-Gulang, Tanjong Karang; Kuala Pangsun, Hulu Langat and Labohan Dagang, Banting, he added. — Bernama