Johor government has allocated more than RM5mil to improve its healthcare sector next year, says state exco Ling Tian Soon.
The Johor health and unity committee chairman said from the amount, RM1mil would be used for a smart queue system (SQS) at Hospital Sultanah Aminah’s (HSA) polyclinic.
“More than 2,000 patients seek outpatient treatment at HSA daily.
“The SQS is expected to reduce their wait time.
“Otherwise, patients usually have to wait for three to five hours,” Ling said in a statement after Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi tabled Johor Budget 2024 during the state assembly sitting at Kota Iskandar in Iskandar Puteri.
The SQS is expected to benefit 57,000 patients a month and would be extended to other public hospitals in the future.
Ling said RM900,000 had been allocated under the budget to enable delivery of medicine via post.
“This will ensure patients do not have to visit HSA just to get their medication.
“Besides that, RM170,000 has been allocated for the Locker4u project that will benefit some 7,000 patients.
“It will allow them to collect their medicine at designated lockers at the HSA pharmacy.
“Also, RM250,000 has been set aside for Johor Health office to fight dengue, which has claimed 19 lives state-wide so far this year,” said Ling.
From next year, the state government will work with public and private hospitals, higher education institutions and volunteers to carry out mobile healthcare activities in all 56 state constituencies in Johor, involving RM1.3mil.
The state government has also allocated RM1.9mil to upgrade 465 pantries in 12 public hospitals for the added comfort of healthcare workers.