Medical services taking note of public feedback
By Laila Rahman

The Minister of Health at the Validation Medicine Dispensing Skills Certificate Presentation yesterday.

The medical services in 2001 saw 64 complaints and opinions received from the public, of which 44 were published in local newspapers, 17 coming through phone calls and one formal letter sent in. This has since whittled down to 56 complaints and opinions in 2002.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Health, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, at the Validation Medicine Dispensing Skills Certificate Presentation at the Ministry of Health yesterday.

He added that as one of the initiatives to maintain the quality of services in public services, it is important to uphold the charter as in the 'Caring People Motto' for every department and unit. In other words, the departments should not be complacent. Manpower is encouraged to be take the initiative, be creative and innovative so as to continuously upgrade roles and responsibility.

Outstanding work performance is a technique of management whereby resolving problems and upgrading quality and productivity is a continuous practice in management method.

He emphasized quality of services and teamwork in his speech, which should exist not only among the officers but in the whole ministry. Excellence should be made a work culture, he said.

He also headlined His Majesty's titah during the Civil Services Day 2003, which stated that the community can do a public service by identifying weaknesses in management or administration, through the services they received.

He urged that it is vital for the staff of his ministry to maintain a good quality of services at all times and to continuously upgrade.

Dayang Aminah bte Haji Md Jaafar, the Director of Pharmacy Services, and Dayang Hajah Siti Mariam bte Haji Md Jaafar, the chairperson of the ceremony, were also present yesterday.

At the end of the ceremony, all performed the 'Bertahlil' and thanksgiving prayer ceremony held at the surau of the Health Ministry.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin