By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Jan 15: Sarawak is setting the pace in Malaysia’s healthcare digitalisation drive, with 65 per cent of its health clinics now operating electronic patient record systems and 250,000 Sarawakians registered on the platform within just one month.
The achievement follows the rollout of the Cloud-Based Clinic Management System (CCMS) across 153 healthcare facilities in the State, placing Sarawak among the leading states in modernising primary healthcare services.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the Sarawak government has allocated RM10 million to fund the implementation of CCMS in the State.
“If a patient has a medical record at a clinic in Gedong and travels to Sibu to visit a child studying there, and suddenly feels unwell, they can go straight to a clinic in Sibu.
“The doctor no longer needs to ask repeatedly what illness the patient has or what medication they take, because everything appears instantly on the screen,” he said when speaking at the official launch of CCMS in Gedong today.
Abang Johari said the digital approach significantly reduces waiting time, eases the workload of doctors and nurses, and improves the speed and accuracy of medical decision-making.
“In the past, nurses had to retrieve files and doctors had to verify the patient’s identity. Now there are no files to carry.
“The information appears instantly, which significantly lightens the workload of doctors and speeds up treatment,” he added.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said 153 out of 270 health clinics in Sarawak have been equipped with electronic patient record systems, with preliminary data showing that 75 per cent of patients receive treatment in under 30 minutes.
“However, there are still 117 health clinics and 49 dental clinics in Sarawak that have yet to be digitalised, with an estimated cost implication of RM16 million,” he said.
When asked by reporters whether the Sarawak government would provide an additional RM16 million to expand CCMS to more clinics, Abang Johari said the decision would depend on recommendations from the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH).
“Providing additional allocation is not much of a problem. However, it depends on what they need,” he said.
He also highlighted the effectiveness of mobile dental clinics, noting that fixed facilities are no longer necessary in some areas as scheduled mobile units can serve communities directly.
“At present, we have eight mobile dental clinic buses. If more are needed, especially now that remote areas are connected by roads and bridges, we can work together to increase the number of units,” he said.
Also present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan; Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah; and Deputy Health Minister Dato Hanifah Hajar Taib. — DayakDaily
