Kuala Lumpur: The Health Ministry (MoH) has no plans to expand the implementation of extended hours (EH) at health clinics, the Senate was told today.The Health Ministry has decided against expanding the extended hours initiative at health clinics, Deputy Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni announced during a session at the Dewan Negara. He noted that the current implementation at selected clinics has not effectively addressed congestion issues, particularly in the Green Zone.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Lukanisman explained that while extended hours did increase patient access to services, it failed to alleviate congestion. ‘The presence of patients increased even though we introduced extended hours. We found that the extended hours provide more opportunities for clients of the ministry to obtain services from our public health system,’ he stated. He emphasized the ongoing evaluation of the EH method’s suitability for reducing congestion in the Green Zone, mentioning initiatives like short-stay units in Emergency Zone areas as alternatives.

He addressed these points in response to a query from Senator Dr. Lingeshwaran R. Arunasalam regarding the impact of EH on congestion in the Emergency Department. The EH initiative, introduced in 2008, aimed to ease congestion in the Green Zone of the Emergency and Trauma Department at MoH facilities nationwide.

Currently, 49 health clinics have adopted the EH system. Lukanisman detailed the operational hours, noting that EH runs from 5.00 pm to 9.30 pm on weekdays and from 9.00 am to 1 pm on Saturdays. In 2023, six clinics were chosen for the Special Task Force on Agency Reform (STAR) pilot project. These clinics include Bandar Botanik Health Clinic in Klang, Ampang Health Clinic, Taman Ehsan Health Clinic, Kuala Lumpur Health Clinic, Greentown Health Clinic in Perak, and Mahmudian Health Clinic in Johor.