PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry will enhance 1Malaysia Clinics by allocating doctors and a proper drug-dispensing unit to address the long waiting times for patients.

At present, most 1Malaysia Clinics are run by medical assistants and nurses.

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said that 1Malaysia Clinic will be renamed to reflect the fact that they are for the rakyat.

“One way is to transform Klinik 1Malaysia to a rakyat clinic,” he said in his first monthly meeting with the ministry staff on Tuesday.

He added the ministry has come up with measures such as the building of nine hospitals, enhancing government health clinics, as well as considering the use of private health facilities.

Asked where the ministry will get the doctors, he said that there was no shortage of doctors.

“What we lack are hospital facilities,” he said.