Gesprek ziekenhuis in Maleisië

Hospital Malaysia

Curious to find out the differences between Singapore and Malaysia concerning health care (cancer treatment in particular) we entered ... Hospital in Kuching. The first difference was the formality. We had to obtain permission from the Director to speak to the responsable of the cancer department. After explaining we were not journilast or interviewing for school, we got the permission

The spokeswoman was really friendly and open to answer all of our questions.

AWARENESS

One of their biggest concerns is to raise awareness, this way treatment can start sooner and the cancer is more likely to be cured. One way to raise awareness is to give community talks in rural villages far away. They learn women how to examine their own breasts and make them realize how dangerous cancer could be. Throughout the years they also had a lot of radio campaigns and they started having big communiy talks in the cities as well. Every year they have the Pink Month, held in October, with loads of big activities related to breast cancer.

TREATMENT

Most of the time after they are ... with cancer they go to the surgeon to operate, or if they cannot operate they get chemo first to make it smaller and then go back to the surgeon to operate. After the operation they return to the cancer department for radio therapy or starting hormone or chemotherapy. This is the only hospital in Sarawak with radio therapy (3 machines to be precise) and that is why people travel far to get their treatment here. When you get hormone therapy you get your first prescription in this hospital and the next sets of tablets will be send to their local pharmacy.

COMFORT OF PATIENTS

A couple of years ago an ex-patient from Singapore came to this hospital and spread their concept of the support group. That is when the women started their own breast-support group. This is something patients organize themselves. Two or three years ago they started a program Look good, feel good. They contacted the local Estee Lauder salon and they agreed on giving some nurses a make-up. Fter a couple of months they had a rag-queen visiting their hospital and teaching more nurses the basics to make-up . Next to this pampering from the nurses, the hospital also arranges activities to the desires and interests of the patients. For example: arts & handicraft workshops, sowing, etc. This is a good thing because people who undergo radio therapy have to stay in the hospital for five weeks. So we believe leisure and entertainment to be a good investment to distract the patients from their disease and keep them happy. One of the best things about their leisure policy is that the patient can give suggestions themselves. For example people from the rural village make big baskets in their village. The hospital then buys the material for the baskets and gives it to the patients. This way they can feel more at homre by making these baskets and they even sell them to the nurses. The most schocking fact was that the family also stays in the hospital. Maybe that doesn't sound too schocking what if I told you they sleep under the bed? ?... This was so unbelievable to us. At least they have their own room, no? Nope, they don't. Just one big common ward with all different types of cancer patients mixed together. Can you imagine?

This may sound horribly crowded, uncomfortable and unusual but this hospital takes astonishing good care of her patients. With activities based on each individual's background this might be one of the most personal care taking you could ever imagine.