Friday October 12, 2012

Rosnah: It only takes minutes

THE maximum waiting time at government hospitals’ emergency and trauma department for semi-critical cases is only 15 minutes, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin.

She said the waiting time for non-critical case, however, was longer — at 90 minutes — while critical cases were attended to immediately.

“Our triage assessment system is based on what is implemented in Canada. Although the waiting period at the emergency and trauma departments have been capped at 90 minutes, there are, however, times when patients had to wait longer,” she said in response to a question by Amran Ab Ghani (PKR-Tanah Merah).

Rosnah said although patients in non-critical cases had to wait longer to see a doctor, they would, however, receive early attention where their blood pressure and pulse would be taken, sugar level checked and if they were wounded, their cuts would be dressed as soon as they arrived.

She said patients who come with light symptoms such as fever would be adviced to seek medical attention at outpatient and 1Malaysia health clinics to ease the burden at the emergency and trauma department.

“We have also taken other measures to improve services at government hospitals, including beefing up infrastructure by opening more consultation rooms and ensuring pharmacies and medical laboratories remain open after working hours.

“We also have more doctors on duty after working hours, particularly at hospitals in highly populated areas,” she said.

Rosnah said that in 2008, 55.8% patients in government hospitals received treatment in less than 30 minutes and last year, the percentage increased to 65%.

Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said independent religious schools should register as federal-aided schools to receive funds from the Government.

Speaking to reporters at Parliament lobby, he said that currently fewer than half of the 382 religious schools were registered with the ministry.

Earlier, hundreds of religious school students and activists staged a peaceful protest in front of the Parliament building to demand funding allocations under Budget 2013.

News

Friday October 12, 2012

Rosnah: It only takes minutes