SUNGAI PETANI: The Health Ministry receives an average of 7,000 complaints annually covering various aspects including services and facilities.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said among the complaints received from the public were poor services or communication skills among the doctors and nurses, long waiting time before receiving treatment, and insufficient equipment.
Besides the complaints, he said the ministry was also forced to spend about RM20 million annually as compensation due to negligence.
In the ministry's bid to overcome the problem and deliver top notch services to the people, Dr Hilmi said numerous initiatives have been taken including providing community simulation lab at nursing colleges.
"With the simulation programme, the nursing students could enhance their soft skills which will enable them to deal with patients and public more efficiently even while under pressure or stressful situation.
"Apart from that, the students are also given the exposure to the community services through the Ziarah Kasih programme where they will go to the ground and provide medical assistance to those in need at the villages.
"It is hoped that the initiatives would help to boost the services provided as we do not want the people to pay the consequences due to our mistakes," he said in press conference at the Malaysia Ministry of Health Training Institute on Saturday.
He later launched the community simulation lab at the institute.
On another note, Dr Hilmi lauded the lecturers at nursing colleges and institute for producing skilful nurses who are recognised at the international level.
He also took the opportunity to encourage the students to further their studies in their respective fields after graduating from their diploma courses in order to increase their knowledge and skills, which would make them more marketable.
