BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE Ministry of Health (MoH) is looking into ways to provide treatment for patients who are unable to visit health centres, its minister said yesterday.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Md Yusof said he found that many patients lack the means and mobility to visit health centres.

The minister was speaking to reporters during his visit to 13 families who were identified as requiring assistance by the Medical Welfare Division.

The families who suffer from various ailments were said to have deprived of certain necessities and faced problems in acquiring treatment at clinics and hospitals. This included physical disabilities, no transportation and financial constraints.

“As a result of these visits, we have found that they (the patients) lack the means to travel and InsyaAllah, in the future, we will try to make it convenient for patients who are underprivileged and lack transportation means.

“We will review this and provide such conveniences for the patients to make appointments and continue treatment, especially for those who require assistance,” pointed out YB Pehin Dato Hj Adanan.

The ministry’s visit was conducted together with the Brunei Medical Association, Brunei Darussalam Nurses Association, Allied Health Professionals and the Brunei Association Medical Laboratory Scientists.

The delegation was divided into four groups, where they visited patients from the Brunei-Muara, Tutong and Belait districts.

Patients were provided with necessities such as food, while some were given medical equipment such as ripple mattresses and suction machines.

While the donation drive was aimed at enlivening the families’ Ramadhan and upcoming Aidil Fitri festivities, YB Pehin Dato Hj Adanan said the visits act as a form of exposure for health professionals, especially in understanding the conditions their patients are living in.

“Our scope of duty does not end at the clinic or hospitals, but we are to look further for patients who require assistance in terms of their living environment.

“We should look at their living conditions, any repairs that need to be done including the toilets, and to ensure their homes are comfortable from a health standpoint,” added the minister.

He further said visiting their homes was important as living environments could be a factor in patients’ well-being, and that health professionals need to take that into account as it might help to improve their health.

The 13 families who were part of the ministry’s charity drive were identified by the Medical Welfare Division of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hjh Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital.

The families were identified as less fortunate and currently under the division’s care.

The Brunei Times