Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Malaysias urban population share grew from 26.8 percent (1970) to 70.9 percent (2010). In 2014, there was a total of 3178 Ministry of Health Malaysia clinics (of all categories) nationwide, as compared to a total of 1167 MOH clinics (1970). This showed that the Ministry was able to keep up with population growth, but the real question is: Can the facilities in the clinics keep up? METHODS: These findings were obtained qualitatively via focus group discussion and in-depth interview sessions. The activity was part of the larger Enhanced Primary Healthcare (EnPHC) Process Evaluation study to evaluate the EnPHC initiatives implementation process in twenty selected intervention clinics. RESULTS: Healthcare providers informed that their current workforce in the clinics has increased and may perhaps be comparable by ratio to their local population. Concerns regarding the clinics physical infrastructure were raised as the physical space remained unchanged, despite the workforce increase. It was common for a consultation room in the evaluated clinics to be shared concurrently by 2-3 doctors, which may be the most sensible decision to overcome the space limitations. Patients viewed it otherwise; the space-sharing approach caused discomfort and shyness among the patients due to the lack of privacy, especially for discussing illnesses that they perceived as personal and sensitive. CONCLUSION: Strategies for service improvements must also consider the physical infrastructures readiness; either via building expansion or new constructions - for the staffs and for patients comfort.
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@proceedings{APCPH-2019-225,
title = {On-Site Experiences: Can Moh Clinics Keep Up with Urbanisation?},
author = {Iqbal Ab Rahim and Lee Lan Low},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-07-22},
urldate = {2019-07-22},
journal = {6th Asia-Pacific Conference on Public Health 2019 Proceedings},
issue = {6},
abstract = {INTRODUCTION: Malaysias urban population share grew from 26.8 percent (1970) to 70.9 percent (2010). In 2014, there was a total of 3178 Ministry of Health Malaysia clinics (of all categories) nationwide, as compared to a total of 1167 MOH clinics (1970). This showed that the Ministry was able to keep up with population growth, but the real question is: Can the facilities in the clinics keep up? METHODS: These findings were obtained qualitatively via focus group discussion and in-depth interview sessions. The activity was part of the larger Enhanced Primary Healthcare (EnPHC) Process Evaluation study to evaluate the EnPHC initiatives implementation process in twenty selected intervention clinics. RESULTS: Healthcare providers informed that their current workforce in the clinics has increased and may perhaps be comparable by ratio to their local population. Concerns regarding the clinics physical infrastructure were raised as the physical space remained unchanged, despite the workforce increase. It was common for a consultation room in the evaluated clinics to be shared concurrently by 2-3 doctors, which may be the most sensible decision to overcome the space limitations. Patients viewed it otherwise; the space-sharing approach caused discomfort and shyness among the patients due to the lack of privacy, especially for discussing illnesses that they perceived as personal and sensitive. CONCLUSION: Strategies for service improvements must also consider the physical infrastructures readiness; either via building expansion or new constructions - for the staffs and for patients comfort.},
note = {Type: POSTER PRESENTATION; Organisation: Centre for Health Equity Research, Institute for Health Systems Research, Ministry of Health Malaysia},
keywords = {enhanced primary healthcare, infrastructure, primary healthcare clinics, urbanisation},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {proceedings}
}