MALACCA: When a 1Malaysia clinic opened near his home in Taman Merdeka, it lifted a huge financial burden off Mohd Salim Manap.

“My 13-month-old daughter is asthmatic and I used to rush her to the nearest private clinic whenever her condition became serious,” said the 38-year-old general worker.

It cost at least RM30 per visit, he said, adding that he had to spend more than RM200 each month.

“It burned a big hole in my pocket,” said Mohd Salim, whose wife works as a cleaner.

When the 1Malaysia clinic opened its doors last year, Mohd Salim paid merely RM1 for each visit.

“This has eased our financial woes very much,” he said when met at the clinic.

His wife Noriah Che Mat, 36, noted another advantage about the clinic – the shorter waiting period.

This, she said, was because the clinic catered mostly for non-chronic cases.

“I feel that the clinic provides convenient access to affordable medical care especially for the low-income group,” she said, adding that she hoped the clinic would eventually operate on a 24-hour basis.

The 1Malaysia clinic was launched in January 2010. So far, there are 50 of such clinics which are started by the Government with the low-income earners in mind.

Opened daily from 10am to 10pm, it offers treatment for fever, cold and other minor ailments. It also provides follow-up treatment for diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma, besides helping to clean wounds.

Assistant medical officer at Taman Merdeka’s 1Malaysia clinic, Leow Kian Quee, said about 120 people would come daily for treatment.

Sabariah Arbanyin 50, who comes for blood pressure check on alternate days, said she had been going to the clinic the past three months.

“It is very convenient. It takes me just 10 minutes to get here from my house,” she said.

Retiree Pang Ah Lek, 69, said he lived with his nephew in nearby Taman Merak Mas but he did not want to burden him with his medical expenses.

“The fee is only RM1 and I get to see a good doctor who prescribes quality medication,” said Pang, a bachelor.

Furthermore, he said the clinic was near his home. “I have no problem walking here,” he said.

Another patient, Lim Bee Tien, 43, said the place had become his family’s clinic as all his family members would go there.

Shopkeeper Liew Siang Chai, 45, from Taman Merdeka, said he hoped that the operating hours could be extended to cater to emergency cases

– THE STAR