How Malaysia Can Strengthen Primary Care So Hospitals Aren’t the First Stop for Minor Issues
How Malaysia Can Strengthen Primary Care So Hospitals Aren’t the First Stop for Minor Issues Walk into any Malaysian public hospital, and you’ll see the same issue— long queues, crowded emergency rooms, and exhausted doctors . But here’s the thing: not every patient in line needs to be at a hospital. Many of these cases—like mild flu, minor infections, or simple follow-ups— could have been handled in a clinic or even via telemedicine. But why do so many Malaysians skip clinics and go straight to hospitals ? It comes down to trust, accessibility, and awareness. If we want to fix hospital overcrowding, we need to strengthen primary care so that clinics, GPs, and digital health services become the first stop for minor health concerns. Here’s how we can do it—along with the challenges we must overcome. 1️⃣ Make Primary Care More Convenient and Accessible 🔹 The Challenge: Many Malaysians, especially those in rural areas, don’t have easy access to clinics . Some Klinik Kesihatan locatio...