BENTONG, April 2 – Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai(pic) today urged the people to take advantage of the 1Malaysia Cataract Treatment Mobile Clinic (KBRK1M) to undergo eye examination and cataract surgery. He said KBRK1M was set up because cataract was the main cause of eye problems in Malaysia.
“It is estimated that to date there are 300,000 people with cataract problems. In 2010 only 28,500 patients underwent cataract surgery and from the total, 80 per cent have been given operation appointments over 16 weeks.
“I am confident with KBRK1M, it can provide the facility for the community to get eye examinations on cataract and retina diseases,” he told reporters after launching the Eastern Zone KBRK1M and opening the 1Malaysia Taman Anggerik Clinic here today.
He said KBRK1M also provided opportunities for surgery to be carried out nearer to the homes of residents and they only need to pay RM130 for one eye compared to RM4,000 at a private hospital. Liow said in the initial stage, KBRK1M will be implemented in the Eastern Zone covering Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu as well as Sarawak. He said the Northern Zone KBRK1M would be launched before the end of the year encompassing Kedah, Perak, Perlis and Penang, while Sabah will be set up after that.
BERNAMA
