Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Haji Ismail Merican“To reduce bureaucracyand increase efficiency, theministry has introducedsimplified forms, onlinepaperless applications andset up one-stop centres tofacilitate transactions”accessibility to medical care. Through this initiative, villagers can receive specialisedcare. Today, Malaysians can easily obtain answers to their medical problems by justclicking through the Internet or by making a phone call. The ministry is seriousin improving the people’s access to care. It is taking bold steps to reduce waitingtime at outpatient clinics by monitoring and mobilising current resources andensuring promptness of care at the accident and emergency departments. Otherpeople-centred services include reducing the waiting time for patients to collecttheir medication at outpatient pharmacies.In selected hospitals, the collection of medication at designated counters can bedone by making prior arrangements through SMS, the telephone, the facsimile ore-mail. Extending the opening hours of counters have been carried out in somehospitals. A “drive-through” pharmacy aimed at reducing congestion at pharmacycounters is being tested in Penang. In line with strategies outlined in the thirdindustrial master plan, the Government has set up the health industry sectionunder the ministry to nurture the development and promotion of healthcareincluding health tourism. The ministry will soon launch “Malaysia Healthcare” aspart of its branding exercise to promote the country as a choice destination forinternational medical care. The ministry, in collaboration with several governmentagencies undertakes programmes and activities to promote the local health industryoverseas via specialised marketing missions for healthcare products in targetedcountries in Asean, the Middle East and Europe. To reduce bureaucracy andincrease efficiency, the ministry has introduced simplified forms, online paperlessapplications and set up one-stop centres to facilitate transactions. These includelicensing, permits and approvals. Rising healthcare costs is one reason that hasprompted many countries to apply business practices to medicine with the hopeof improving efficiency, controlling expenditure and enhancing quality, and in theprocess, improving competitiveness.However, the “business mindset” must not compromise healthcare delivery.27