KUCHING: Men are urged to undergo early health screenings to improve their quality of life and enjoy a longer, healthier, and stress-free future.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said that awareness of health issues among men remains low, as some feel embarrassed to share their problems, come forward, or seek early treatment.
“Therefore, the opening of the new He Medical Clinic branch in Kuching here is hoped to encourage more men to undergo regular health screenings so they can be more alert to early signs of disease,” he said.
He said this during the officiating ceremony of the HE Medical Clinic Kuching & Men’s Health Carnival at Canaan Square here today (Aug 2).
Fadillah said one of the major diseases threatening men in Malaysia is prostate cancer, but advancements in medical technology now allow early detection through a simple blood test.
“Through the health screening services offered at today’s Men’s Health Carnival, we can see a wide variety of screenings being provided, including for cancer detection,” he added.
Fadillah also noted that the opening of this clinic has the potential to ease pressure on hospitals and the government, as the country currently faces a shortage of doctors and nurses.
“Many of our doctors and nurses are moving to the private sector or migrating overseas due to more lucrative offers, including to Singapore and Saudi Arabia, which shows that the quality of their services is internationally recognised,” he said.
He also said that the rising number of chronic patients due to unhealthy lifestyles places a burden on the healthcare system, which is not in balance with the existing number of doctors.
“An important approach to ensure the healthcare system remains sustainable in terms of doctor, nurse, and treatment capacity is by educating the public to adopt healthy lifestyles and maintain proper nutrition.
“We want to place greater emphasis on preventive medicine rather than curative (healing) treatments to encourage citizens to stay healthy through regular screenings, which in turn reduces the burden on the national healthcare system,” he added.
