Teleprimary Care is coming

Finally, the Ministry of Health has approved KK Lanang to be included in the Teleprimary Care (TPC) Network. It is simply because the family physician is one of the major key players in the game. They have allocated 250 thousand for the clinic and the hardware installation is under progress. TPC which is under Telehealth project is one of the flagships of Multimedia Super Corridor. As we move forward to become a developed nation, the government is committed to provide a comprehensive health system which is equitable, affordable, efficient, technologically appropriate and customer friendly.

One of the major problems of health services in Malaysia is the availability of comprehensiveness and quality of health care in remote health centres. When patients are transferred from the health centres to the hospitals for further treatment, this not only incurs inconvenience to the patients and their family but also increases the cost to the health care system. Teleprimary care is one of the tools to overcome this problem. The doctors in the remote clinics are able to discuss the problem cases through teleconsultation with the doctors and specialist in the hospitals using an audiovisual system to provide better care in the health centers without transferring the patients to the hospitals. Only the essential and needy patients are referred to the hospitals. This has not only reduced the number of patients referred to the hospitals but it has reduced the cost to the health care system. It has also provided a more comprehensive care to the patients in the health centres. The doctors in the health centers are also provided training and are also updated on the latest in medicine. This method of training has made doctors in the health centers more efficient and satisfied.

TPC is still under a pilot project. Besides Johor, Sibu and all the health centres along the Rajang basin has been selected as the pilot area. With it mountainous and hilly topography which is only accessible either by river or air, Sarawak especially Sibu and the Rajang Basin will benefited the most from this project. I remember seeing patient who departed as early as 2 am with the express boat from Kapit and reach Sibu only 4 hours later. After receiving treatment from the clinic or hospital they have to spend a night in Sibu before they can cruise back the next day because there is no express boat service after 12 pm.