Recently, I volunteered to cover a Klinik Komuniti (KKOM) because the medical officer in charge was on a long medical leave due to an unexpected situation. I sincerely wish him a full and speedy recovery. I chose to take on this task because, compared to some of my colleagues, I feel that I have it a little easier when it comes to balancing work and family responsibilities. I’m fortunate to have strong support. My husband and his family are always hands-on in helping care not only for our kids but also for my niece and nephews. Not everyone is as lucky as some have to shoulder much heavier burdens in their daily lives.

To be honest, working at KKOM isn’t something I’d choose to do permanently as a medical officer. The working hours just don’t align well with my lifestyle. Given my current schedule and responsibilities, committing to KKOM full-time would feel like an ‘injustice’ to both my family and personal life.

KKOM operates from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with a break from 6:45 PM to 7:45 PM. This setup means I need to fit in my prayers and meals whenever I can. It’s manageable for now, especially since the patient volume isn’t as heavy as in a regular Klinik Kesihatan. Despite the given time, I do get slightly miserable when patients choose to come 5 minutes before closing. 5 minutes is just not enough time to have a patient registered, take their vital signs, examine and dispense medication. When this happens, patients are counselled on good clinical practice and advised to come back the next day or visit the ER on urgent matters. While patients may argue, ‘I just want to take Panadol,‘ then by all means, just pop into 7-Eleven and purchase a strip. Health facilities are not convenience stores.

Some might say, “At least you have the morning free before work starts.” But the truth is, I still have to wake up early for Subuh and get ready for the day. On days when my husband isn’t around, that also includes sending my daughter to school. One upside is that I get to enjoy a peaceful brisk walk along the river under the morning sun. However, running errands like grocery shopping isn’t always convenient, since most shops only open at 10:00 AM, unless I go to Mydin. I do prefer Family Store, though.

By 11:00 AM, I need to be ready to leave for KKOM, ideally with a home-cooked meal in hand. Ordering through Grab just doesn’t sit right with me. Imagine a room full of waiting patients, and your food arrives. People might judge, “Masa kerja sibuk nak makan. Gaji buta. Bla bla bla.” Especially since there’s only one medical officer at the clinic, everything is under scrutiny.

Once KKOM closes at 9:00 PM, I begin my journey home. Thankfully, Melaka is a small state, so even though some stretches of the road and highway are poorly lit, the drive isn’t too long. When I get home, I unload my food containers, take a shower, perform Isyak, and try to wind down for the night. Sadly, my daughter is usually already asleep by then, and that stings a little, knowing I only get to see her awake in the morning. If I had to do this permanently, it would mean only one real interaction with her each day, unless we lived near KKOM and I could see her during the break.

So yes, with my current commitments and lifestyle, KKOM feels emotionally and physically taxing. I’m grateful I’m only covering it temporarily. While I understand that KKOM was established to provide medical care outside of conventional working hours, I can’t help but wish that employers would take a more proactive role in supporting healthcare access. Too often, I hear patients say they couldn’t seek treatment earlier because of work constraints. If employers truly valued health as a vital asset, they would treat it as something to be protected, not sidelined.

There should be dedicated, protected time for employees to attend medical appointments without fear of being penalised or even losing their jobs. If such a policy were embraced widely, the need for after-hours clinics like KKOM would diminish. Common conditions like the flu or gastric reflux could be addressed during regular clinic hours, simply because employees would feel safe and supported in seeking care when they need it most. Healthcare needs the participation of all, not just MOH.