Health Services

Primary Care

Primary care is initial, basic health services. If you are unwell, you should go to a primary health care clinic first. Do not wait until you are very sick, because then you may require much costlier treatment in hospital. Primary care clinics usually also provide vaccinations for children, antenatal care (for pregnant women), family planning services, and treatment for diabetes and hypertension. There are three kinds of primary health care clinics:

• Government health facilities – Klinik Kesihatan or Outpatient Departments (OPD) in government hospitals.

These government health facilities offer primary care services to refugees and asylum-seekers, but at fees equal to 50% of the foreigners fee for individuals registered with UNHCR. Individuals without UNHCR documents are charged the full foreigners fee. When UNHCR-registered individuals are provided medication at government health facilities, they can be given a full supply of medication, rather than the normal five days of medication given to other foreigners. You can show this MoH circular to request a full supply of medication.

• NGO clinics

The following NGO clinics offer primary care services to refugees and asylum-seekers at low fees. Some also hold mobile clinics that may be closer to where you live; please contact them directly to ask if they hold mobile clinics at a location convenient for you.

• Private clinics

A private clinic may be the nearest point of primary care to you, but may charge higher fees than government or NGO clinics. Some private clinics which have kindly agreed to discount their fees for refugees and asylum-seekers, including clinics that are part of Qualitas Health Group, Care Clinic and Global Doctors (click on the links for clinic locations). Most of these private clinics accept any identification documents, including UNHCR documents or community cards or letters.

Secondary care is required when someone has a serious medical problem that requires treatment or surgery in a hospital. This could be due to a medical emergency or trauma like a car or workplace accident, or a primary care clinic may refer you for secondary care if the clinic is unable to treat you. If you have a serious injury or illness, you should seek immediate medical attention at the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department of the nearest government hospital.

At government hospitals, UNHCR-registered refugees and asylum-seekers are required to pay a registration fee of MYR 50. Refugees and asylum-seekers who need to be admitted to stay in the hospital for in-patient treatment often have to pay a deposit ranging between MYR 700-1,400. Depending on how serious your condition is, the fees for treatment received in hospital may be higher than the deposit. UNHCR-registered refugees and asylum-seekers are charged 50% of the foreigners fee, but individuals without UNHCR documents are charged the full foreigners fee.

Email: socialworker1.mra@gmail.com / socialworker2.mra@gmail.com / socialworker3.mra@gmail.com
Call or WhatsApp: +6017 450 9163 / +6017 507 8923 / +6017 706 7367

This hotline is strictly meant for healthcare providers/NGO partners/refugees and asylum-seekers to enquire and request for medical assistance only. Please DO NOT contact this hotline to request for registration or resettlement.

Due to limited funds, only a small number of requests will be approved. Approvals are decided jointly by a Health Referral Committee made up of medical and non-medical representatives from UNHCR and 3 NGOs.

Note: MRA is not able to support any case requiring dialysis for kidney failure. Access to heart surgeries, angioplasty, and cancer treatment will also be dependent on the availability of funds.