Brunei Darussalam’s healthcare system and services continues to be strengthened through the adoption of a Universal Health Coverage policy in which a comprehensive, accessible and quality healthcare services is provided at all levels from primary healthcare to secondary and tertiary levels, covering health promotion, treatment, rehabilitation, prevention and control of diseases.
In upholding the aspirations of Brunei Vision 2035, along with the goal of ‘Together Towards a Healthy Nation’, the Ministry of Health focusses on five main strategies: excellence in healthcare services; prevention and control of non-communicable diseases; protection of public health through effective policies and regulations; sustainability of the healthcare system and services through resource optimisation and innovation; and transparent and proactive governance.
Apart from the hospital, health centres are available for the public’s convenience. To improve waiting time, an appointment system has been implemented in five health centres: Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Muta-Wakillah Hayatul Bolkiah Health Centre in Gadong, Muara Health Centre, Pengkalan Batu Health Centre, Jubli Perak Sengkurong Health Centre and Berakas Health Centre.
Berakas Health Centre officially opened its door to the community on May 16, 2016, as a project under the 10th National Development Plan. It offers services not usually found in other health centres including x-ray and emergency services, radiology, rehabilitation, and a mental health unit. Other services include primary healthcare, women and children services, dental services, phlebotomy, health screening, smoking cessation, nutrition, ophthalmology and vaccination.
Currently the country’s largest health centre, Berakas Health Centre is a three-storey BND14 million facility, located at Zone 1 of RPN Lambak Kanan, catering to residents of Mukim Berakas ‘A’ and ‘B’, while consolidating health centres in Kampong Anggerek Desa and Kampong Sungai Hanching in Mukim Berakas. The basic healthcare facilities at the Bandar Seri Begawan Health Centre in Jalan Ong Sum Ping have been transferred and taken over by the Berakas Health Centre, which offers extended consultation hours.
The prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in the county are a priority of the Ministry of Health, where specific initiatives planned under the Multisectoral Task Force on Health are implemented and monitored.
These initiatives target all levels of the population including schools (Water Drinking Policy, the School Canteen Guidelines and the Fit4Good Programme); workplaces (Workplace Health Promotion Programme and the Health in All Policies advocacy); public places (Healthier Choice Logo & Nutrient Criteria, Healthy Supermarkets Programme; Healthy Restaurants Programme, Car-free Sunday Programme and the Tobacco-Free 4Life initiative); and the general community (Mukim Sihat Programme, the Health Ambassadors Programme and the Community Kitchen Programme).
Through the 11th National Development Plan, infrastructure projects under the Ministry of Health are in the pipeline, including the construction of a health centre in the Pandan area in Kuala Belait; a block at the Jubli Perak Sengkurong Health Centre; an emergency services building at the Suri Seri Begawan Hospital in Kuala Belait; and a laboratory to support the establishment of the National TB Reference Laboratory and Virology Services.
The Ministry of Health rolled out the National Health Screening Programme in February 2019 to prevent chronic diseases by early detection, and to improve treatment of non-communicable diseases. The programme focusses on early detection of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, the highest causes of death in Brunei.
Health education among the general population will be improved to spread awareness and importance of healthcare.
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