Rural patients wait longer for cancer specialists, digital upgrade proposed

SHAH ALAM - The National Cancer Council (Makna) has highlighted the need for increased staffing and technological advancements to reduce cancer treatment wait times in Health Ministry (MOH) facilities.

Makna service division head Nisha Sanita Mohd Norha acknowledged the presence of nine cancer-focused hospitals under MOH but stressed the limited number of oncology specialists to manage the growing patient population.

She highlighted that most treatments provided by these specialists are accessible primarily in major urban centres, which offer more comprehensive facilities and a higher number of skilled healthcare professionals capable of managing such cases effectively.

"Many cases referred to us are from rural areas, where securing an appointment date or waiting for specialists to visit on designated days can be time-consuming.

"The shortage of skilled healthcare workers contributes to prolonged waiting periods, although the current 30-day duration represents an improvement compared to the previous waiting period of two to three months due to a semi-manual system," she told Sinar yesterday.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad previously noted that patients typically wait at least a month for treatment, subject to the patient's health condition and the severity of their case.

Nisha also proposed another solution to upgrade the appointment system through digitisation, incorporating an automated reminder call feature.

"This enhancement can streamline the appointment process without requiring a large workforce, ensuring that no patients are overlooked or miss out on appointments.

"Malaysia's cancer treatment technology is on par with that of developed countries, and we trust that MOH remains committed to continuously improving the quality of healthcare services in the country," she added.