| Hakim Hayat |
THE opening of the country’s largest health centre catering for residents of Mukim Berakas ‘A’ and Berakas ‘B’ on May 16 is seen as a huge step by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in ensuring its promise for the delivery of top-notch health services to the community.
The three-storey Berakas Health Centre, a $14-million facility built under the 10th National Development Plan, is strategically located at Zone 1 of RPN Lambak Kanan and will be the first health centre in the country that will focus on providing the best customer experience, in line with the MoH’s revamped client charter.
MoH said this move is also aimed at realisation of its main strategic focus to enhance its quality of services through the consolidation of existing services, facilities and infrastructure, providing added-value to patients and the public through the optimisation of resources to avoid wastage.
Built on three main goals – giving the best customer experience, making it as a one-stop health centre and engaging in the local community activities – the consolidation of health centres in Berakas ‘A’ (Anggerek Desa) and Berakas ‘B’ (Sungai Hanching) to the new Berakas Health Centre will see a new appointment system that will add more convenience to those who wish to see a doctor.
Patients will be given a time slot, enabling them to better manage their time and arrive at their leisure, as opposed to the conventional system that involves meticulous registrations and long-hours of waiting for a doctor.
An overview of the Berakas Health Centre, set to open its doors to the public this coming Monday. – FILE PHOTO
Members of the public, especially residents of Mukim Berakas welcomed the introduction of the new system, which they say will add more convenience and give them more time to focus on other things. “Alhamdulillah, this new system will definitely eliminate all the hassles, as we no longer have to wait long hours just to see a doctor. In the past, it can be very challenging to manage your time when seeing the doctor amidst a busy schedule like picking up children from school and other matters,” said Hajah Noraini binti Haji Ibrahim, a government servant living in RPN Lambak Kanan.
With the new system, patients may call or visit the health centre for an appointment where they will be given the earlier, or most convenient, time slot on the day itself where a staff will attend to the patient who will then screen each one before making the appointment. Only one appointment is given per patient, who will need to arrive at the facility at least half an hour before the set appointment.
MoH said the health centre aims to provide more services and facilities to the public which previously was not provided in most health centres. Some of the additional services provided in the facility built on a 4.45-hectare site will be rehabilitation services, mental health unit, radiology (X-Ray Services), emergency services, wellness clinic and bio-medical engineering.
Some of the core medical services provided in the new health centre include primary health care, women and children services, dental services, pharmaceutical services, phlebotomy services (taking of blood samples), health screening clinic, nurse-led clinic (e.g. pap smear tests and diabetes nurse educator), smoking cessation clinic, as well as nutrition , ophthalmology and vaccination services.
A father of three children residing in Kampong Anggerek Desa lauded the move by the MoH to provide a one-stop clinic for the heavily populated area. “I think it doesn’t just add more convenience, but also improves the customer experience as a whole for Brunei’s healthcare services. Apart from that, the consolidation of services will also help avoid congestion in other health centres and offer a convenient distance especially for senior citizens,” Mohd Mahdi bin Haji Azman said.
Some features unique to the new health centre include a surau, breastfeeding rooms, canteen, ambulance services, A bus stop and public car park that can accommodate over 100 cars.
As a further initiative to deliver excellent services and based on public feedback, the Berakas Health Centre will also be extending its operating hours from 7am to 9pm on Monday to Thursday and Saturday, and from 2pm to 9pm on Friday, Sunday and public holidays.
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