[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 12 Aug 1999
Time: 01:46:56
Remote User: -
ULASAN
BERITA INI MENJELASKAN BETAPA CAKAP ALI BERPUSING-PUSING MENGENAI CAJ-CAJ DAN PERKHIDMATAN IJN KEPADA RAKYAT MISKIN. DIA MENGESAHKAN BAHAWA ADA KES-KES DIMANA MEREKA YANG MAMPU BAYAR DIUTAMAKAN.
============================================================================================================================== Opposition claims about IJN untrue, says Mohd Ali
By Loong Meng Yee
SHAH ALAM: Deputy Health Minister Datuk Wira Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam defended the National Heart Institute's (IJN's) decision to give paying patients priority for surgeries over non-paying ones, as long as they were not on the critical list.
"If both patients can wait six months before surgery and one can afford to pay, why not give the paying patient priority on the operating table?
"IJN needs money to keep it going. If there is sufficient money coming in, it can also be used to subsidise treatment for other poor patients," he told reporters after opening the Selangor Medical Centre dialysis centre here yesterday.
Mohd Ali said this to dismiss claims by the opposition parties that IJN had become "arrogant" and only entertained paying patients, ignoring the needs of poor patients.
He said it was untrue that poor patients were forced to wait months for surgery, while paying patients were operated on immediately.
"If a patient is deemed critical and needs to be operated immediately, IJN doctors must do the necessary regardless of the patient's financial situation.
"This has been the practice all along. IJN had performed many heart operations for free," he added.
Mohd Ali said the maximum waiting period for surgery at IJN was two months, even though a patient could wait much longer.
"IJN was able to shorten the waiting time because the institute has more than enough specialists.
"Eight specialists would suffice but IJN has 16," he said, adding that the additional specialists were despatched to government hospitals nationwide to train other doctors.
"If a heart patient from Johor is willing to be operated at the hospital there instead of coming to IJN, the patient can go into surgery immediately," he said.
Mohd Ali warned opposition party members against attacking IJN, saying claims of excessively high fees, long waiting periods, and turning away poor patients were untrue.
He added the ministry had not received a single complaint about IJN doctors since he became the deputy six months ago.
"I suggest the opposition political party leaders pay a visit to IJN and get a clearer picture of the situation before making false claims," he said.