UMP1M

Medicine Through Pos 1Malaysia (Ubat Melalui Pos 1Malaysia) (UMP 1M)

By, Daniel Liew CY

Patients with chronic diseases can now get their regular medicine delivered to them at home. "Medicine Through Pos 1Malaysia", will be offered specifically for patients with chronic diseases, especially those with regular follow-ups after their pharmacists have determined the stability of the drugs treatment.  This new service was an innovative idea by the ministry in partnership with Pos Malaysia Bhd.  This idea came from the Ministry's Pharmacy Services Department as a number of chronic patients missed their scheduled check-ups and medicine because it was inconvenient for them to go to hospital.

Noting the service was available at 26 hospitals nationwide. At the moment, the main load is only at the pharmacy units of state hospitals. Ministry of Health will expand the service by stages in other hospitals and health facilities.  Putrajaya Hospital, Selayang Hospital and Luyang (Sabah) health clinics are the pioneers to start on UMP 1M project.

The pilot project for the service was done in October 2009 at the Putrajaya Hospital.  As of December last year, 1,054 patients have used the service and we expect more patients to benefit.  With this new service, patients with chronic diseases such, including diabetics and heart patients who have trouble getting their follow up drug supplies, do not have to go to hospital.  Instead, the prescribed drugs will be sent to their homes or any address within Malaysia via Pos Laju.

The medicine will be first prepared, counter-check and packed by authorised pharmacists.  The packing will then sealed carefully before posted. The packaging cannot be opened by unauthorised personnel.

The cost of delivery is absolutely affordable and the patients will have to bear the cost of delivery, simply RM3.50 within Putrajaya, RM5 in Peninsular Malaysia and RM8 in Sabah and Sarawak.

By implementing this creative and innovative UMP 1M, MOH provides convenience, safe and less time consuming services to patients from nationwide.