His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Chairman of the National Disaster Council officiated the opening of the National Isolation Centre located in a separate building at Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah (PMMPMHAMB) Hospital in Tutong yesterday.

HRH Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah was greeted on arrival by Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Mohd Yusof, Minister of Health, Permanent Secretary and Deputy Permanent Secretaries at the Ministry of Health, Acting Tutong District Officer as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Health.

The Crown Prince signed the official opening plaque and took a closer look at the facilities of the National Isolation Centre.

The National Isolation Centre is one of the projects under the strategic planning of the Ministry of Health under the 9th National Development Plan. It was built at a cost of $8,472,000.

It is fully equipped in line with the aim and function of the isolation centre. It is also equipped with Bru-HIMS (Brunei Darussalam Healthcare Information and Management System).

To fully utilise the facility optimally, when the centre is not utilised during emergencies or pandemics, the National Isolation Centre can be made use of for administering and placements involving communicable diseases that need isolation procedures whenever needed. This includes the utilisation of facilities at the centre such as "sterilisation" and also the "operating theatre".

The National Isolation Centre is equipped with medical and infrastructural facilities in accordance with infection prevention and control guideline of the World Health Organisation including the Negative Pressure System and Individual Isolation Room with special ventilation system.

Other than Isolation Wards, the National Isolation Centre is also equipped with other facilities such as the triage area; operating theatre; treatment room; consultation room; recovery room; pharmacy; portable X-ray machine; management and administration as well as its own surau.

The centre shows the nation's preparedness in facing pandemic crisis or emergencies such as tackling Influenza A (H1N1) or H5N1 viruses and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), thus ensuring the safety, health and welfare of the people of Brunei Darussalam.

During no such pandemic outbreak or threat, the centre will be utilised to treat patients suffering from communicable diseases such as Tuberculosis (TB) and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococus Aureus (MRSA) and other types of communicable diseases.

In an interview, Acting Chief Executive Officer of PMMPMHAMB Hospital, Awg Mohammad Sabri bin Hj Anuar told the media that the centre will restrict visitors such as family members or relatives as it is an isolation centre.

The construction of the centre shows the commitment and efforts of the nation towards meeting international guidelines related to public health such as the International Health Regulations 2005 mandated by the World Health Organisation. The existence of the centre is also in line with the need in preparing emergency facilities in accordance with the allocation made under the Disaster Management Order 2006. It has showed the nation's continuing proactive approach in preparing against such eventualities.

During the official opening of the National Isolation Centre yesterday, HRH Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah visited PMMPMHAMB Hospital to take a closer look at the development of Bru-HIMS that was introduced at the hospital July 26, 2012.

The Crown Prince began his tour at the Registration and Payment Counter located at the Lobby area of the hospital and moved to specialist clinics, laboratory and others before ending the tour at the pharmacy.

Bru-HIMS was officially launched by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on September 11, 2012 in conjunction with the Knowledge Convention 2012 at the International Convention Centre.

Bru-HIMS is Brunei Darussalam's e-Health programme which focuses on strengthening the healthcare system by improving the medical and health services and the management of hospitals, health centres, treatment centres and clinics, through the provision of relevant and current data to clinical disciplines, professional services and administrative teams. Bru-HIMS will enhance integration of different levels of healthcare and make healthcare services efficient.

Bru-HIMS will eventually replace all conventional medical records file system into an electronic record containing individual patient medical record history and comprehensive medical information, thus realising the 'One Patient, One Record' objective thereby preventing duplication and missing of information.

During the visit, the Crown Prince also mingled with local medical officers consisting of local doctors, allied health professionals from various fields such as from cardiology, renal, pathology, public health, dental and also medical laboratory sciences. To date, there are 45 local experts or medical consultants and 215 local medical officers and dentists. - Borneo Bulletin (14 November 2012)