Malaysia's first NCD clinic in a food court to open in Johor

JOHOR BARU: The Malaysian state of Johor is set to inaugurate the nation's inaugural non-communicable disease (NCD) clinic situated within a food court. Medan Niaga Kampung Melayu Majidee in the city will be transformed into a healthcare facility through the refurbishment of six shop lots. State Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon revealed that the RM1 million project, led by the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), will relocate NCD follow-up services from the Majidee public clinic to the food court.

Ling stated that the clinic, capable of serving around 200 patients daily, will primarily cater to those in need of follow-up treatment for hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Once completed, this will be the first NCD clinic in Malaysia located within a food court. The six existing lots will be converted into treatment rooms and equipped with necessary amenities such as air-conditioning, furniture, and medical equipment.

MBJB is responsible for the tender and procurement process, while renovation works are projected to last three to four months. The clinic is slated to commence operations early next year. This initiative aims to bring NCD follow-up services closer to the community and alleviate access to healthcare. To alleviate the congestion in the Mengkibol clinic in Kluang, which currently attends over 1,000 patients daily, several measures have been implemented.

Ling explained that this congestion is due to the transfer of some NCD follow-up services from the Enche Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital to the Mengkibol clinic because of staffing shortages. The Mengkibol clinic, the sole government health facility providing comprehensive services in central Kluang, has been grappling with limited space, congestion, and extended waiting times as patients with hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol have been redirected there.

Ling mentioned that the clinic has already introduced scheduled appointments, extended service hours, and relocated blood-taking services to a former dining hall in an adjacent building, which has somewhat improved patient flow. Further proposals, including broader use of electronic queue management and transferring some services to a more suitable location, are being evaluated in collaboration with the Johor Health Department.