KPJ Healthcare Launches KWAN Mobile Clinic At HSAJB To Support Public Healthcare In Johor
KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Bernama) -- KPJ Healthcare Berhad (KPJ Healthcare) has launched the operations of its Klinik Waqaf An-Nur (KWAN) Mobile Clinic at Hospital Sultanah Aminah Johor Bahru (HSAJB), Johor, to improve access to affordable care and support emergency services for the public.
In a statement today, it said the mobile clinic provides after-hours treatment for non-critical cases and is aimed at reducing congestion at the hospital's Emergency and Trauma Department.
The mobile clinic operates from 8 pm to 12 midnight, offering medical consultations, basic medications and medical certificates at subsidised rates equivalent to those at government hospitals and also supported by KPJ's digital Clinic Management System ('CMS'), which ensures safe, efficient and secure patient management.
KPJ Healthcare President and Managing Director Chin Keat Chyuan said by expanding access to care after hours, they are helping to ease congestion at HSAJB while serving the community more effectively.
'This is also the first time a KWAN Mobile Clinic is operating within a public hospital setting in Johor, which reflects the strength of our collaboration with government partners. It is part of our commitment under the KPJ Health System to deliver more connected, inclusive care,' he said.
The launch of KWAN Mobile Clinic was officiated by the Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and attended by Johor State Executive Councillor for Health and Enviroment Ling Tian Soon, Johor State Health Department (JKNJ) Director Dr Mohtar Pungut @ Ahmad, HSAJB Director Dr Mohamad Nizam Subahir, as well as senior representatives from KPJ Healthcare and Waqaf An-Nur Corporation Berhad.
The initiative is a collaboration involving the Johor State Government, JKNJ, Waqaf An-Nur Corporation Berhad, and the Johor State Health Exco Office.
KWAN Mobile Clinic services in Johor began in 2017 and currently in operation through two mobile units that serve various communities across the state. The addition of HSAJB as a new service point is expected to increase outreach to patients, including those seeking treatment at public hospitals.
To date, KWAN has treated more than 2.2 million patients nationwide through a network comprising eight static clinics, eight dialysis centres with 192 dialysis machines, and nine mobile units.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Sinar Daily
9 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Menopause treatment can help women stay in the workforce
KUALA LUMPUR - Lim Ai Jing feels like she has been a bad daughter. When her 54-year-old mother called her to complain that she was not sleeping well, Lim dismissed her concerns, thinking they were normal gripes. "And initially, I took it lightly. But then now, when I read through everything, it's like, oh my god, this can be quite serious,' Lim, 29, told Bernama via Zoom. The 'everything' she was referring to is her research on perimenopause, the transition phase when estrogen levels in women start declining, and menopause, characterised by the end of the menstrual cycle for good, and their long-term effects on women's health. Long considered a natural process that did not require any intervention, experts are now calling for a paradigm shift: recognising early menopause care not just as a matter of individual well-being but as a crucial strategy to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and save Malaysia and its people significant money and misery. Malaysian Menopause Society president Dr Ho Choon Moy said too many people in the country are unaware of how serious untreated menopause can be for women, and only addressing it after they have developed issues like diabetes. "There's zero budget for menopause. Most of the budget (go to conditions) like diabetes, big budget, you know? I mean, they are like treating the fire, they're putting out the fire but (not) the root cause (which is menopause),' she said on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Menopause Federation 10th Scientific Meeting here recently. WHAT IS MENOPAUSE? Menopause marks not only the end of a woman's reproductive years but also her increased vulnerability to developing various diseases. The average age of menopause in Malaysia is 50.7 years, though women may start the transition process (perimenopause) 10 years earlier. In the foreword of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Menopause, then-Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, wrote this: "Menopause, a natural biological process that is accompanied by estrogen deficiency, will affect every woman. As the average age of menopause in Malaysia is around 50 years, one-third of the lives of women are going to be without the hormone estrogen, making them susceptible to a multitude of problems, ranging from social to medical issues such as coronary heart disease, non-communicable diseases, osteoporosis and cancers.' Dr Ho said providing early menopause care, such as Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT), is a worthwhile investment as it will prevent many diseases and complications later on. "Menopausal Hormone Therapy has long-term benefits. We are talking about preventing diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, osteoporosis and fractures,' she said. "When you treat all these women who are having symptoms now, it is cardiac protective. It actually protects the heart, you know.' According to the 2013-2019 National Diabetes Registry, published by MOH, women constitute the majority of diabetic cases in Malaysia at 57.1 per cent. The report did not specify at what age the women were diagnosed with diabetes, whether they were receiving MHT or whether they outnumbered men due to their longer life expectancy. Studies on hip fractures among elderly patients admitted to teaching hospitals in Malaysia found that most of the patients were women due to their lower bone density from osteoporosis. The average stay at the hospital was five days. "Give, like, free menopause hormone therapy in the government clinic. Okay, that will cut down (the government's) health expenses 10 to 20 years down the road,' Dr Ho added. THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT On top of healthcare savings, experts argue that providing early menopausal treatment can fuel economic growth by helping some women stay longer in the workforce. In several international studies, issues surrounding menopause have been cited as a significant cause of women exiting the workforce during middle age. While Malaysia has announced strategies, ranging from childcare or eldercare assistance to three-month paid maternity leave, to keep women in the labour force, menopausal symptoms have not made much headway in penetrating mainstream consciousness. The impact of menopausal symptoms on Malaysian women in the workforce is a profound, yet largely unacknowledged, reality. As a recent study led by prominent obstetrician/gynaecologist and menopause advocate Dr Premitha Damodaran highlighted, common menopausal symptoms among multiethnic working women in Malaysia include joint pain, sleep disturbances, brain fog, mood swings and digestive issues. Lim, who works as a clinical psychologist at Sunway Medical Centre Velocity, said many of the symptoms can be debilitating, regardless of whether the women are working or not. "The most destructive symptom (is) sleep disturbance, and also the most important one that we cannot ignore is the cognitive problem, that is, concentration issues (or brain fog),' she said. Brain fog can make it difficult to concentrate, remember crucial information or make quick decisions, impacting productivity in roles that require sharp cognitive function. Hot flashes, another menopausal symptom, can lead to embarrassment and discomfort in professional settings, while chronic fatigue from sleep disturbances erodes overall well-being and focus. These symptoms have a carry-over effect. Striking women between the ages of 45 and 55, some of the symptoms have been severe enough for many women to report reduced productivity, leading them to decline promotions, reduce their working hours and resign early, according to studies conducted in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This translates to a significant loss of experienced talent, invaluable institutional knowledge and leadership potential, particularly among women aged 45 to 60, who are often at the prime of their professional lives. "You know, they have a lot of experience (by then). If they go, it's really a waste of resources,' said Dr Ho. "(When we treat women's menopause symptoms) because they are healthy, they can continue working. They don't have to retire (early). And this will boost the economy of the country, the female workforce.' Malaysia's female labour participation rate (FLPR) was 56.4 per cent as of May 2025, an increase from 56.2 per cent in 2023, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia. Singapore had 62.6 per cent FLPR and Thailand 60.6 per cent FLPR in 2023. There is scant data in the Asia-Pacific region on whether menopausal symptoms are a significant factor for women exiting the workforce. Menopause also increases the chance of developing mental health issues like anxiety and depression, while other physical symptoms like vaginal dryness, which makes sexual intercourse painful, may exacerbate the anxiety and depression. Mood swings and irritability may also affect family and social relationships, and cause them to break down. "(Women experiencing menopause) easily get hot-tempered. Easily irritable. Become moody. Mood is unstable. Feel offended easily. Feel sad easily. This is what can sometimes cause problems between the husband and wife,' said Prof Dr Nik Hazlina Nik Hussain, vice president of the Malaysian Menopause Society. She said open and honest communication between a husband and wife is crucial so that the wife will feel supported to go seek help to alleviate her menopausal symptoms. The same goes for husbands, who may be suffering from erectile dysfunction. AVAILABLE BUT UNPOPULAR MHT, an umbrella term that covers all hormonal treatments including contraceptives and hormonal replacement therapy (HRT), is the recommended treatment for relief of menopausal symptoms. For instance, the Clinical Practice Guidelines Management on Menopause Care states that estrogen therapy may be cardio protective when started within 10 years of menopause or for women less than 60 years of age compared to older postmenopausal women. Despite acknowledging the benefits of MHT in preventing cardiovascular diseases, the guidelines do not recommend it for primary or secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in women. Other factors also influence the low uptake of MHT in the Asia-Pacific region. Studies have cited factors such as cultural stigma and taboo, and misinformation and fear. Dr Nik Hazlina said the ignorance is often generational and women, especially those in rural areas, tend to see menopause as a natural part of ageing and something to be endured. "Although menopause is a natural physiological process, it can produce debilitating symptoms,' she said. This ignorance is not only rife among the public but also among the medical and healthcare sector, even in gynaecology. One woman, who asked to be identified as Nadirah, told Bernama that an oncologist acquaintance warned her to only take her hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) for five years for fear of developing breast cancer. Dr Ho was not surprised to hear Nadirah's story, saying that she has seen patients who had been put on MHT by one doctor, only to be taken off it by another. "And the patient came to see me, saying 'Doctor, I'm confused, my GP (general practitioner) gave me MHT, but the gynaecologist asked me to stop',' she said. While there are small risks to going on MHT, menopause experts said the risk is largely dependent on the type of treatment. For example, taking combined HRT - estrogen and progesterone - increases the breast cancer risk slightly - by about 0.4 percent according to the Health Services Executive, Ireland's national public health and social care provider - over those not taking it. But taking estrogen-only MHT, especially for women with no uterus, will not increase breast cancer risk. There is also non-hormonal menopause care, usually recommended for women breast cancer patients or women with a family history of cancer, if they are concerned about developing breast cancer. But they are only for symptom relief and will not protect against cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and other NCDs. Dr Ho blamed patriarchy for the lack of awareness of menopause's effects among doctors whom the public relies on for medical and health information "We need to really educate doctors. I mean, in medical school, they only have like one small chapter on menopause, that's all. They don't really concentrate on menopause,' she said. Lim agreed. She said when she was doing her degrees to qualify as a clinical psychologist, the curriculum did not consider menopause as a root cause for any mental health issue. "They asked us to look into hypothyroidism because it (presents) similarly as anxiety symptoms. We were always told to look for bipolar, for other physical issues. But no one asked us to look at menopause,' she said. When asked what she planned to do with her newfound knowledge on menopause, she said she would start by taking her mother's complaints seriously. "I think it's time for me to sit down and talk with her about this and see how I can help with her sleep,' she said, smiling. - BERNAMA


New Straits Times
5 days ago
- New Straits Times
Indonesia proposes to send nurses to Malaysia under strategic plan
JOHOR BARU: The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Johor Bahru has proposed a strategic collaboration with hospitals in Malaysia to enable nurses from Indonesia to work here, thus helping to overcome the issue of manpower shortage in the medical sector. Its Consul General, Sigit S. Widiyanto, said this would be a win-win situation since about 70 per cent of the international patients in Malaysia are from Indonesia. He is confident that this measure will be mutually beneficial because Malaysia is facing a manpower shortage in the health sector, including nurses, while Indonesia has an excess workforce in the field. "Perhaps, in Johor, Melaka, and then in Penang, Kuala Lumpur… almost 70 per cent of their patients are Indonesians. I was told that the situation is the same with several hospitals in Sabah. "As such, it will be a win-win situation if more of our nurses get to work here. Communication-wise, there will be no problem as we understand each other. Similarly, in terms of opportunities and culturally," he said in an interview with Bernama recently. Previously, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said major hospitals in Johor Bahru are currently facing a serious and critical shortage of healthcare manpower, with a nurse having to manage more than 10 to 14 patients per shift, compared to an ideal ratio of 1:6 or a maximum of 1:8 Sigit said the consulate has begun state-level collaboration with a hospital in Johor, including the process of nurse intake before presenting it to the authorities in Kuala Lumpur for approval. "This requires approval from the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Malaysian Nursing Board and other stakeholders. But, we are trying because this has never been done before," he said. He said the nurses from Indonesia are currently recognised in many countries, including Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UA), Japan, Australia and Germany - proving their capability to serve in Malaysia. "If Indonesian nurses can work in those countries, then they can surely work in Malaysia. Within ASEAN, member countries have already agreed that nursing is among the open professions that can move between countries. Of course, there needs to be skill adjustments and other requirements according to existing regulations, but that is not a big problem," he said. He said they also plan to focus on recruiting nurses from the Riau Islands and Riau as an initial effort to place health workers in Malaysian hospitals. This measure is taken due to geographical proximity and cultural similarities, in addition to many patients from this area seeking treatment in states like Johor and Melaka. "We do not need to go far, we can fulfil our own needs. If it can be implemented nationally, it would be better, but for now, we will focus on the Riau Islands first," he said. He said Tanjung Pinang in the Riau Islands has a health education institution, namely the School of Health Sciences and the Health Polytechnic owned by the Indonesian Ministry of Health, which can be a major source of prospective nurses. "We have discussed with the health school here to create a 'sandwich' programme, whereby the curriculum will be combined to allow graduates in Indonesia to continue their studies for six months in Malaysia before serving here," he said. Sigit is confident that this method can produce nurses who are not only professionally qualified but also able to adapt to the local language and culture. The Johor Bahru KJRI has recorded that about 130,210 Indonesian citizens reside in its work area covering Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang. – BERNAMA


Malaysian Reserve
6 days ago
- Malaysian Reserve
Nuna Selected by White House and CMS to Join Landmark Health Tech Ecosystem Initiative
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Nuna announced its selection to join the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Health Tech Ecosystem, a landmark public-private initiative designed to transform healthcare for Americans. The initiative was unveiled at a White House event on Wednesday by President Donald Trump, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Amy Gleason, Acting Administrator of DOGE. The event was attended by a select group of healthcare leaders and innovators, including Nuna Founder and CEO, Jini Kim. As part of the ecosystem, Nuna will contribute its expertise to two cornerstone efforts: Conversational AI Assistance and Diabetes & Obesity Prevention and Management. 'We're honored to stand alongside CMS in this bold and necessary step forward in healthcare,' said Jini Kim. 'We believe health isn't just built in the hospital or clinic; it's forged in the small moments of our daily lives. That's why we created Nuna, a trusted digital companion to help people succeed on their health journey, one day at a time.' Nuna's pledge is centered on its AI-powered digital engagement platform. Nuna's app empowers patients to confidently manage their chronic conditions through a combination of 24/7 conversational support, motivating gamification, and direct linkage to their clinical care team. This integrated approach drives powerful results: 72% of users with uncontrolled hypertension achieve control and 73% remain active after six months. By connecting daily patient behavior to the clinical team, Nuna bridges a critical gap in today's healthcare landscape by enabling timely, proactive intervention by care teams for their patients. 'Nuna has been a game changer for patients struggling with chronic conditions,' said David Ansell, MD, of Rush University System for Health and a Nuna development partner. 'It extends care from the clinic to the home and its AI enhanced education engages patients in behavioral change that persists over time. The result being better blood pressure control and improved health behaviors. Early results suggest it can crack the code on chronic disease self-management by engaging people to attend to their health when they are in their homes. This type of tech innovation has great potential to transform primary and preventive care across the US.' About Nuna Nuna is a digital health company dedicated to transforming chronic care by empowering patients and their clinicians. Its AI-driven platform provides personalized, continuous support to help people manage their health and chronic conditions in the moments that matter most. Nuna partners with health systems and health plans to improve patient outcomes, enhance care team efficiency, and reduce the overall cost of care. For more information about Nuna's participation in the CMS Digital Health Ecosystem, visit or contact press@