Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said out of the government’s concern for the welfare of the lower-income group (B40), K1Ms established at public housing projects (PPR) were not closed despite having fewer than 40 patients a day.

He said the average number of patients was among the criteria used to decide on the closure of a K1M.

The presence of other government health facilities within 5km of the K1M clinic was also another consideration.

He said the ministry had done a proper evaluation before deciding to close any K1Ms.

“After a comprehensive assessment, 34 K1Ms will be closed,” he said in response to former prime minister Najib Razak’s criticism.

Dzulkefly said the clinics would operate until the end of the lease of the premises, and until staff was relocated to other health clinics.

He said a total of 293 K1Ms would be value-added to become community clinics with additional doctors and pharmacists.

Twenty of them would be upgraded to become health clinics.