Consider using medication through post, patients urged
SIBU: The ‘ Ubat Melalui Pos’ (UMP) or delivering of medication by post is a caring and hassle free way for patients to obtain their monthly supply of medicine.
A staffer at Oya Road Polyclinic here yesterday urged patients especially the elderly to make good use of the service, saying supplies can be delivered to their home at their comfort.
“The UMP is where the patient has (only) to pay RM5 (per delivery). Actually, if you calculate - the RM5, where you come here (Oya Road Polyclinic) and back to your house is already enough to pay for the petrol besides the waiting time here to get your medicine,” she explained.
She pointed out that UMP was among the measures to ease congestion at the polyclinic.
Adding on, she said through the UMP, elderly no need to come out from the house to get their supplies of medication.
“Pay for the postage and every month they will post to the house. UMP is available – especially for elderly who have difficulty in coming out of the house and wait here.”
She said it started long ago but people were not willing to pay that RM5 ( per delivery). She said the public can go to the pharmacy counter at Oya Road Polyclinic here to register and have the medications sent to them every month.
Meanwhile, during his visit to the polyclinic last week, Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health Dr Annuar Rapaee had said several measures had been proposed to disperse the patients to ease the congestion at Oya Road Polyclinic here, where the current daily average has swelled to 660.
Dr Annuar, who is also Assistant Minister of Education, said the number was almost doubled as the polyclinic established in 1991 was meant to cater for a maximum of 300 patients daily then.
He revealed that among the suggestions were to move out the maternal child health ( MCD) services, which currently services about 150 patients per day.
He said they were trying to identify a suitable shop lot to cater for non- communicable diseases patients seeking treatment for hypertension and diabetes.
He also noted this category of patients constituted about 300 per day. The polyclinic also catered for those going for blood tests for them to see doctors in few weeks’ time, which numbered 150 daily.
The dental clinic there handled 150 patients a day. Then, there were those patients who came to the polyclinic to obtain their supplies of medication, which accounted for 300 daily. To ease this (congestion), these patients should go to Clinic 1Malaysia (K1M) in UTC Sibu. And there are a K1M each in Bandong, Rajang Park and Teku.
“So, patients from these areas – they don’t have to come to the Oya Road polyclinic to take their medicines, just go to these K1Ms to obtain their medicines,” Nangka assemblyman said.
There is a plan for a new polyclinic costing about RM40 million to cater for the growing needs for healthcare services among residents here.
Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health Dr Annuar Rapaee has said the proposed clinic will be designed to cater for 500 to 800 patients per day.