| James Kon |
THE Ministry of Health (MoH) is in the process of implementing its National Health Screening Programme for the early detection and treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and looking to build a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) certified laboratory and a new health centre in the Kampong Pandan area in Kuala Belait, as part of infrastructure projects under 11th National Development Plan.
These latest developments were highlighted by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar in his opening remarks yesterday morning during a dialogue session with members of the Legislative Council at the ministry’s Al-’Afiah Hall.
The dialogue was meant to be an open platform for the participants to share their opinions and recommendations on health issues with the MoH, in support of their efforts to enhance the quality healthcare services in the country.
The minister, who was chairing the session, also noted that the ministry will be focussing on five main strategies to support Brunei Vision 2035 objectives.
“These five target strategies are to achieve excellence in the country’s healthcare services; preventing and controlling NCDs; protecting public health through effective policies and regulations; ensuring the competitiveness of Brunei’s healthcare systems and services through the optimal use of resources and exercising innovation; as well as being transparent and proactive in the governance of the health services,” the minister said.
He added that the ministry, placing great weight on the importance of quality and safety in the country’s healthcare, has recently established a national committee for patients’ wellbeing and safety.
“This is to provide a holistic framework to work from to ensure the safety of patients in adherence with the best practices and recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO),” said the minister. “The MoH will also strengthen the overall quality management system and instill a culture of widespread safety in the profession.”
On basic healthcare services in Brunei, he said, “The ministry has provided various convenience services that are easily available and close to the local community through a one-stop health centre. Services offered include a general clinic, clinic for chronic diseases, as well as healthcare for mothers and children.”
A doctor appointment scheduling system has also been introduced in five health centres across the country, namely Berakas Health Centre, Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Muta-Wakkilah Hayatul Bolkiah Health Centre, Muara Health Centre, Pengkalan Batu Health Centre, and Jubli Perak Sengkurong Health Centre.
“To ensure that the system runs smoothly, we need the public’s cooperation to be punctual for their appointments,” the minister said.
Other developments include the approval of a number of health infrastructure projects under the 11th National Development Plan.
Among these are the construction of a new health centre in the Kampong Pandan area in Kuala Belait, the construction of a new block for the Jubli Perak Sengkurong Health Centre, the building of an emergency services building for Suri Seri Begawan Hospital in Kuala Belait, as well as the construction of a BSL3 certified laboratory to support the establishment of a national tuberculosis and virology services referred laboratory.
Upgrading and renovation works at government hospitals and health centres nationwide are also underway and being carried out in phases according to priority, the minister told the media.
With regard to the MoH’s readiness to respond to public health crises, the minister gave assurances that the ministry has formulated strategies to effectively handle such situations.
He said, “We are aware of the importance of protecting public health and take upmost priority in preparing for any threat to public health such as epidemic outbreaks. In an effort to improve the country’s efficiency and capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health emergencies, the national committee on implementation of WHO’s International Health Regulations (IHR) 2005 was recently established. Members of this committee comprise representatives of a number of stakeholder ministries and agencies.”
Moving on to the issue of smoking, the minister says that the MoH recognises the threat of tobacco products to public health, and has taken steps to curb their consumption such as running campaigns to raise public awareness on the dangers of smoking and availing smoking cessation clinics to the public.
“According to the 2016 Cross Sectional STEPwise Approach to Surveillance Population Survey of NCD and Risk Factors in Brunei Darussalam, it was found that 20 per cent of adults in Brunei are smokers. To reduce of the number of smokers in the country, enforcement of the Tobacco Order and related regulations was tightened,” he said.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham added that strategies for the prevention and control of NCDs continue to be a top priority for the ministry.
One of these, he said, is the plan to implement the National Health Screening Programme for early detection and treatment of chronic NCDs. The programme will focus on the early detection of cardiovascular diseases and cancers, which is the leading cause of death in the country.
Efforts to enhance health education and health literacy among Bruneians will also be intensified.
Brunei Darussalam, the minister said before concluding his speech, “has achieved most of the objectives of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 2030 on health with regard to the well-being of mothers and children and the control of infectious diseases”.
He continued, “Nevertheless, we cannot be complacent on the achievements made because there are still challenges that could threaten the health status of the nation. Thus in line with the vision ‘Together Towards a Healthy Nation’, the MoH hopes for the cooperation of government agencies, the private sector, NGOs and grassroots leaders to work together to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining public health and safety for the well-being of the country.”