COVID-19: MOH proposes expansion of virtual clinic to ease congestion

The Ministry of Health (MOH) plans to expand the implementation of virtual clinics to ease congestion in government clinics and hospitals following the spread of COVID-19.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the concept of virtual health services would be introduced gradually and to start at crowded health clinics.

He said this included making appointments with patients in stages.

"We are expanding this virtual concept among patients where they do not need to come to the clinic to get medicine, we will deliver.

"This service can also be extended to stroke patients as well as those with transportation constraints to come to the hospital," he said at a press conference here on Monday.

Dr Noor Hisham explained that MOH is also considering the concept of bringing home services including visiting patients.

The method, he said, has been adopted for maternal and infant services.

In 2019, there were five pioneering virtual clinics, namely the Section 7 Health Clinic in Shah Alam, Selangor; Seberang Jaya Health Clinic in Penang; Precinct 18 Health Clinic in Putrajaya; Luyang Health Clinic in Sabah; and Tudan Health Clinic in Miri, Sarawak.

Dr Noor Hisham said the MoH was also considering setting two shifts -- morning and evening -- at health clinics to facilitate social distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19.