KUCHING: Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has asked the Health Ministry to study and better understand the present situation of the health services provided in Bintulu.
He said among the problems now is that there is not enough space for more haemodialysis machines to be placed in the health facilities.
“The government does provide few units of haemodialysis machines but most them were donated by the public and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from Bintulu.
“And when people want to go for treatment, the answer from the clinic or the hospital is that they give priority to government officers,” he said in a question to Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali during the question-and-answer session at the Parliament Sitting on Monday.
He therefore asked how the ministry is going to solve this matter.
“Let’s not answer just for syiok sendiri (self-thrill), but please look at the reality on how to solve this problem,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Noor in reply to a question by Tiong on plans to provide more healthcare facilities, especially haemodialysis machines, at Bintulu Polyclinic, he said the Health Ministry constantly monitors and improves the health service facilities from time to time in phases, depending on the needs of the local community.
“The Health Department is always striving to improve the health services in all health facilities, including the health clinic in Bintulu,” he said.
He said the haemodialysis centre in Bintulu Hospital was upgraded in 2013 by expanding the haemodialysis treatment area and increasing the number of haemodialysis machines from 12 to 24 units.
“Of this total, one haemodialysis machine is for Hepatitis B patients and it has been increased to two machines which will be able to accommodate 12 slots for treatment,” he said.
He added there are about 126 kidney patients in Bintulu and the total number of Hepatitis B patients in Bintulu Hospital are 12 patients, where none of them are on the waiting list for treatment nor sent out of Bintulu for treatment.
