UPDATED 1.50PM | A total of 33 1Malaysia Clinics will be closed down in stages, while the remaining 313 will be revamped and rebranded as Community Clinics, according to Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

"The 33 clinics will be closed in stages, and will not affect the delivery of healthcare services to the people in surrounding areas, because (they can still access) nearby hospitals and clinics," he said at a press conference after launching a National Dental Healthcare Week event at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

Each of the Community Clinics, Dzulkefly said, will be allocated with a medical officer and several nurses as well as a pharmacist to dispense medicine...