By Adrian Lim
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10: The Ministry of Health (MoH) will look into expanding healthcare facilities including haemodialysis treatment at Bintulu Polyclinic and Bintulu Hospital if the need arises.
Deputy Health Minister I Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said if there were more patients in Bintulu requiring the services, the Health Ministry will consider the proposals.
“The Health Department provides haemodialysis treatment to patients based on their needs and in different phases.
“There are approximately 126 kidney patients in Bintulu but only 12 patients have Hepatitis B infection.
“There are two machines for Hepatitis B treatment. We are unable to provide haemodialysis treatment to all the patients.
“If there is a need which arises, the federal government will look into adding more spaces for haemodialysis treatment,” he said when replying to Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing in Parliament today on proposals by MoH to address the issue of patients seeking haemodialysis treatment at Bintulu Polyclinic or Bintulu Hospital.
Dr Noor Azmi said the haemodialysis centre in Bintulu Hospital was upgraded in 2013 and that the treatment centre was also widened and the number of the haemodialysis machines in Bintulu Hospital doubled to 24 units.
Earlier, Tiong has asked MoH on their plans to provide more healthcare facilities especially haemodialysis machines at Bintulu Polyclinic.
He revealed that there were not enough haemodialysis machines for patients at the polyclinic, adding that most of the machines at location were donated by non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
He said when there were patients who needed to use haemodialysis machines for treatment and the feedback he received from health officers at Bintulu Polyclinic was that the usage of the haemodialysis machine was for government officers. — DayakDaily
