Rep concerned about service at Polyclinic Miri
MIRI: Patients seeking treatment at Polyclinic Miri in the city centre often lament that they struggle to get their queue number despite arriving there as early as 5am.
Rumours have it that there were people selling the first few numbers to those willing to pay in order to save time and not wait in the queue.
Upon hearing this, Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting decided to check the situation by making a surprise visit at the break of dawn.
“Indeed, there are rumours saying this and that. Our job as people’s representative is to make sure that the system is fair and square to everyone and of course, we have to be there to check it ourselves,” Ting said during the visit.
In fact, it wasn’t Ting’s first surprise visit to the polyclinic in the early hours.
He often made the visit by himself without even notifying the media, as he understood that it was far too early.
He said he observed that the door of the polyclinic was opened at 6am sharp, enabling the patients already there to enter the medical centre and get their number.
“From my few visits here, it seems to be fair that those who
Indeed, there are rumours saying this and that. Our job as people’s representative is to make sure that the system is fair and square to everyone and of course, we have to be there to check it ourselves. Datuk Sebastian Ting, Piasau assemblyman
arrive early get the first few numbers. Registrations will start at around 6.15am onwards and doctors as well as pharmacists are already at their respective working booths before 7am, though working hours start at 8am,” Ting related.
Ting, who also took time to check on the facility at the polyclinic, was happy that the conditions at the centre have improved a lot, with ample waiting chairs and cool waiting area.
Previously, patients had to bear the hot weather while waiting due to the broken air-conditioner. The inadequate chairs also caused a lot of inconvenience as many patients needed to sit down while waiting for their turn.
“It does not mean that we should be satisfied with these. Instead, necessary improvement should be done step-by- step to meet the needs of the people,” he said.