SINGAPORE : Polyclinics have been asked to consider setting up
specialist family medicine clinics to meet public demand for better
service levels.
The suggestion came from the Senior Minister of State for
Information, Communications and the Arts, and Health.
Dr Balaji Sadasivan said a recent study showed the public prefer
the polyclinic as the site of treatment as it is affordable and
close to their homes.
They are, however, dissatisfied with the polyclinics as they felt
the medicines are not effective and there is insufficient attention
from the doctor.
He also noted some patients want the confidence of a personalised
service from a doctor whom they know and who knows them because he
is the same doctor at every visit.
Dr Balaji said improving services at the polyclinics would relieve
the stress on the specialist clinics in the public hospitals,
leading to better overall healthcare.
He also urged the Institute of Mental Health to review its services
and work with the polyclinics to bring psychiatric treatment closer
to the community.
One option is for psychiatrists to migrate to polyclinics.
The other is to recruit general practitioners into the Ministry's
Early Psychosis Intervention Programme, which focuses on early
detection of the illness, so they can continue with the follow-up
treatment. - CNA