WEDNESDAY-5TH DECEMBER 2007-FUND MAY ASSIST PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES

Fund may assist patients with chronic illnesses
BANGI:
The Health Ministry will propose to the Cabinet to allocate part of the Medical Aid Fund to assist patients with chronic illnesses seeking treatment at private hospitals due to the long wait at public hospitals. Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said they would, however, be saddled with hefty bills at the private hospitals as it cost them between RM25,000 and RM3O,000 for treatment. “We found that some chronic patients had to wait between one and two years and sometimes even longer to get treatment at the public hospitals,” he told reporters at the presentation of a contribution from the National Energy Foundation (NEF) for child heart patients to the National Heart Institute (NHI) Foundation here yesterday. Dr Chua said he had discussed the proposal with the relevant parties, including private hospitals, and hoped he could table the proposal to the Cabinet in two weeks’ time. On the eligibility for the aid, he said the ministry would study the background of the patients. “We have the mechanism.... we have to look at the household income and the family size before we determine the socio-economic status of the family,” he said. On the other hand, he hoped private hospitals would also carry out their social responsibility by charging minimum rates on chronic cases from the lower-income group. On Monday, Dr Chua had expressed concern over the exorbitant charges at private hospitals which tantamount to profiteering.