| Azlan Othman |
EACH year, 350,000-400,000 people are seeking basic healthcare services in the country, according to Dato Paduka Dr Haji Md Isham bin Jaafar, the Minister of Health.
However, there has been a slight decrease in the number of people availing such services, the minister noted, quoting statistics for the last three years. “This is due to the introduction of Self-Approved Medical Leave (CSDS) policy for public servants in 2016 as well as the appointment system at health centres,” he added.
Speaking at the World Health Day gathering yesterday at the Al-‘Afiah Building of the Ministry of Health, the minister said the number of patients with diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol level who visited the chronic disease clinics has increased from more than 69,000 in 2015 to almost 77,000 in 2017.
“This clearly shows the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Brunei Darussalam, which needs to be addressed more effectively and in an integrated manner,” he said.
“At the Emergency Department of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital, the total annual attendance of patients stands between 104,000 and 131,000 patients.
“As we all know, the primary function of the Emergency Department is to handle emergency cases to ensure the best outcome immediately for patients. The department conducts screening or ‘triaging’ where the patient will go through an initial check and will be categorised as Priority 1, 2 or 3.
“Priority 1 is a critical case to be handled immediately, while Priority 3 is mild illnesses such as cold cough, diarrhoea, sore throat, ear problem and skin diseases that can usually be addressed by the Basic Health Care Division.
“Figures compiled by the Emergency Department of RIPAS Hospital over the last three years have shown that 71-78 per cent of those who visited the department were Priority 3 category patients.
“This clearly shows the burden of work on the department which is not in line with its primary purpose, which is to handle emergency cases. Therefore, we need the cooperation of all parties to ensure the services provided are properly utilised for patients who rightly deserve them,” the minister said.
Dato Paduka Dr Haji Md Isham also noted that the 21st century healthcare system continues to face challenges of globalisation that are increasingly complex.
He said, “In Brunei, the burden of non-communicable diseases is increasing; old and new infectious diseases are challenging the nation’s healthcare services. The rapid development of medical and health technologies along with increasingly knowledgeable and informative population also pose additional challenges. This diverse challenges require us to make new approaches that are more efficient, proactive, innovative and rewarding to overcome it.
“The achievements of the Ministry of Health that we are witnessing today cannot be sustained, if it is not equipped with more health professionals that are highly educated and skillful.”
The minister urged all employees of the ministry to embrace the ‘People-Centred HealthCare’ concept, to be more caring, ethical and professional and adhere to the standard procedures. “They should be determined to give the best service and, more importantly, communicate better with the public,” he said.
The event yesterday also featured an exhibition depicting the achievement of the nation in healthcare over the years.
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