MCA Penang State

RM90mil set aside to tackle diseases

The Star Tuesday, 21 December 2010

GEORGE TOWN: A Cabinet committee will be set up to combat non-communicable diseases like cancer, high blood pressure and obesity among Malaysians.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the committee, involving 12 ministries, would outline policies to deal with issues related to these diseases.

He said the committee, which was approved by the Cabinet last Friday, would be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“We will implement community empowerment programmes, in which village community development and security committee (JKKK) members will be appointed as health advocates in their respective places,” he said after opening the Bandar Baru Air Itam health clinic here yesterday.

Liow said RM90mil had been set aside for the programmes. He said four mobile clinics would be made available in Johor, Perak, Selangor and Pahang next year. “It is a good concept as mobile clinics can reach out to those in rural areas. If it is proven effective, we will provide mobile clinics in all the states,” he said.

There are currently 127 mobile clinics equipped with doctors, medical advisers and nurses in the country, most of which are in Sabah and Sarawak. 

The Bandar Baru Air Itam health clinic, which cost RM25.8mil under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, was completed in March. The clinic offers outpatient, dental, emergency, pharmacy, lab, X-ray and rehabilitation services, and treatment for mother and child. It caters to over 100,000 residents in Air Itam, Paya Terubong, Rifle Range and Green Lane on the island. Since it opened in June, it has already received over 20,000 outpatients.