Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Access to Healthcare

  • Funds allocated to the state having to be shared with large illegal immigrants.
  • Sabah is now poorest country in Malaysia due to high number of illegal immigrants.
  • Indigenous communities of Sabah found mostly in rural areas are among the poorest in the country
  • Literacy standard is low because children have no limited access to education-they are unaware of the importance of proper healthcare
  • Can't afford so they marry in their teens
  • They live without basic infrastructure
  • Illegal immigrants are benefiting from the healthcare.
  • Severe shortage of doctors and specialists.
  • Sabah and Sarawak are geographically challenged-rainforests, poor roads and basic facilities.
  • Gov's action?-relocate remote communities into rural growth centres.
  • Young doctor's reluctant to be posted to rural areas.
  • Having no roads also means they are unable to commute effectively to health facilities-increase in level of illness.
  • Low wages and being cheated by easy payment scheme.
  • Taxi fare high from Tambunan to city center-RM170.

Hospital Queen Elizabeth provides services such as:
  • Eye specialist clinic - every Monday to Friday
  • "Screening for Retinopathy of Prematurity" - Monday and Thursday (afternoon)
  • "Diabetic eye screening " clinic in collaboration with the diabetic medical clinic - every third Monday of the month (morning)
  • In Patient services
  • Ophthalmologist 's visit to district hospital (Wednesday).
  • CME Programme for staffs( Tuesday).
  • Yearly basic ophthalmology course for medical officers, paramedics and community nurses.
  • Collaborating with NGO for eye camp including surgery
  • Optometry services
Charges

Outpatient charges:

Malaysian RM 1.00 (Kecemasan & "Locum")
Foreigner RM 50.00 (Kecemasan)
Foreigner RM 15.00 ("Locum")


www.jknsabah.gov.my/perubatan/DataHFacts2006.swf



SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES OF CATARACT


  • Many feel that loss of vision is common in old age
  • They were not aware that there are option such as surgery to cure cataract
  • Awareness is determined by factors within the health system (e.g., are the services well-known to communities and first-line health workers?) as well as factors such as patient or family education level.
  • Many elderly people still do not accept surgery as an option
  • Acceptance is influenced by a wide range of personal and cultural beliefs, including a patient's belief that surgery will restore vision

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