Health Services Need Improvement
By Anna Abu Bakar

Bandar Seri Begawan - Some Bruneians have called for more improvements in Brunei's health services to reach a high level of standards, as the sultanate joins other countries in observing the World Health Day today.

The Brunei Times spoke to several locals to find out what areas need to be improved on the eve of the celebration. A 53-year-old housewife commented on the slow services at hospitals and health centres, where patients have to wait for a long time to see the doctor. This, she said has to change.

She also said that she is confused with the medical procedures as there is a contradiction as to when is actually medications are given to diabetic patients.

"According to doctors, my sugar level is on the borderline towards being a diabetic however, when I see a doctor at a private clinic, I am given diabetic medication," she said. . She added that -when she went to visit the hospital again, the doctor explained that their policy is to give out diabetic medication only to those that have been diagnosed as having diabetic and well over the borderline.

"So does that mean, I am only given diabetic medication when I am suffering from chronic diabetes as opposed to being given something as a preventive measure?" she asked.

For Dee Dee, a 21-year-old employee at the private sector said that generally everything about the sultanate's health services are slow but when it comes to seeing the doctor, it lasts only for less than five minutes.

"It is understandable to wait but at the same time, waiting for two hours just to see a doctor under five minutes is ridiculous," she said.

She suggested more doctors should be employed at the Ripas hospital as "more often I always see only two doctors on duty and lots of people waiting for hours at end". Communication with patients is another problem that was highlighted with suggestions that the doctors need to be more understanding and explain to the patient if she or he is not suffering from the common flu.

An individual working in the private sector who preferred to maintain anonymity said that she heard that a doctor in the capital who misdiagnosed a patient and was transferred to another hospital in another district.

"The mistake would have been fatal to the person as he had misdiagnosed and carelessly tossed aside the person's sickness as normal or something," said the individual.

Despite the $1 fee for local Bruneians to see a doctor, the amount is not what we would expect in terms of service, said Mohamed, father of five children. "But for me, I like the idea that the Ministry of Health has taken up more and more local doctors," he said.

He said that this could be seen from local clinics, with more younger doctors and the local doctor was helpful and provided sufficient explanation, the last time he went to see the doctor at a clinic. "I felt like I was really being taken care of as opposed to the 'What's wrong?" question the moment I walk in," he said.

World Health Day, is celebrated today to mark the founding of the World Health Organisation and an, opportunity to draw worldwide attention-to global health each year. In 2008, World Health Day will focus on the need to protect health from the adverse effects of climate change.

WHO selected this theme in recognition that climate change is posing ever growing threats to global public health security. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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