Govt looking to set up virtual clinics nationwide next year

Patients get their check-ups done online and are referred by doctors to the appropriate specialists

by S BIRRUNTHA/ pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

THE government is looking to implement virtual clinics nationwide next year, amid a rapidly growing trend of online medical check-ups.

Currently, Malaysia has just begun its journey with five virtual clinics managed by the Ministry of Health to test the efficiency of such facilities, Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye (picture) said.

“As we are moving towards digitalisation in the health sector, the implementation of virtual clinics in Malaysia is a pioneer (move) and we are currently studying the whole process to expand it throughout the country.

“Among the areas we are examining are in terms of the patient’s data security, confidentiality, quality, accountability and traceability,” he told reporters after officiating the Asean Health Summit (AHS) 2019 in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Virtual health clinics are “a great option” due to their convenience, Dr Lee added, noting that the practice is being carried out abroad whereby patients get their check-ups done online and are referred by doctors to the appropriate specialists.

However, as accessible and convenient as the concept is, not all diseases can be treated via online consultation. “We don’t suggest this to everyone, just for certain groups of people who are suffering from non-communicable diseases.

“There are some illnesses for which you need to physically see a doctor, but diseases such as diabetes and hypertension can be easily (treated) through online consultation,” Lee said.

For these patients, all that’s required is to check their blood pressure or sugar levels at home before communicating with their doctors online.

The doctors can then identify the patients’ needs and advise them on the necessary medication.

“This will also avoid problems such as parking issues and the long waiting process for admissions in the hospitals,” Dr Lee added.

The five virtual clinics set up by the government in May this year are located in Putrajaya, Selangor, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak.

In support of Asean’s strive for sustainability of better healthcare services, the AHS 2019 is held to extend a platform for industry members to convene and talk on the latest advancements available in healthcare fields.

The two-day event, held from Nov 20 to 21 at MITI Tower in Kuala Lumpur, also covers the transformation to digital healthcare and its accessibility within the sector, with medical experts from various countries participating in the panel sessions.

Organised by the Asean Business Advisory Council Malaysia, its chairman Tan Sri Dr Mohd Munir Abdul Majid said the summit will be a place to connect bridges and empower healthcare stakeholders — not just within Asean countries but globally as well.

“Furthermore, it showcases how big of a role these new innovations and technologies could play towards sustainable best medical and healthcare services,” he said in the event.