Materia Medica Malaysiana

Under attack but Chua stands by his ministry

LAST Monday, the front page report of a Malay daily screamed accusations of delay and tardiness at the Health Ministry. Parents of children requiring medical assistance slammed Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng’s earlier statement denying red tape in the disbursement of financial aid from the National Health Welfare Fund.

“There is no logic to his statement,’’ Abdul Halim Othman, a 37-year-old father, told the daily. “He is merely defending the bureaucracy in his ministry. Ask him to come to the ground to see for himself.”

The report was followed by a television poll in which a majority of viewers criticised the ministry.

The minister, at a Press conference last Wednesday, accused the daily of having a hidden agenda for its distorted report.

Holding up Halim’s “thank you’’ card, he said: “I cannot imagine why a person who sent us such a heart warming message should now turn around and accuse us of being so callous.

“I personally oversee these applications and I would know if my officers have been tardy. They were not. And as minister, I will defend my officers if they are wrongly accused.”

The National Health Welfare Fund (NHWF) was set up following public controversy over the RM350,000 collected for TV personality Ras Adiba Radzi and the death of baby Sofea Qhairunnissa Ali while awaiting a liver transplant.

It was on Sept 4, 2002, that the Cabinet announced the setting up of the NHWF with the directive that patients seeking public dona-tions for treatment must first have their cases evaluated by the Director-General of Health.

The Cabinet also directed organisations to stop collecting public donations until the case was assessed through proper channels and deemed necessary following the increasing number of inquiries and complaints from the public and the medical fraternity on the validity of requests made through the media.

“Malaysians are a very generous lot, and we do not want this to be abused,” said Chua. “That is why we want to ensure that there is transparency and accountability.’’

Under NHWF, patients who approach the media or other organisations must furnish medical documents and reports to these organisations and they, in turn, must submit these documents to Health Ministry Director-General Tan Sri Dr Mohamad Taha Arif and his committee who will evaluate each case.

“The D-G will make inquiries before deciding if the case can be treated at government hospitals, which are heavily subsidised and committed to treating those from the lower income group. He would also decide, after discussions with the relevant specialists and hospitals, on the best form of treatment. This could be either conservative treatment or surgery.’’

Once it is ascertained the treatment cannot be done in a government hospital but in a private hospital either at home or abroad, only then will the mass media or other organisations be allowed to go ahead with fundraising.

The D-G will also determine through discussions which private hospital will provide the treatment at the appropriate cost. Funds collected from the public must be channelled to the NHWF to finance the medical expenses.

“All monies will be paid directly to the hospital and health provider, and any balance will be kept for other cases.”

The Cabinet approved a RM5 million contribution to the fund. Chua said the vetting of applications was done on a “fast-track basis” by the NHWF committee.

The committee comprises Chua, who is the chairman, the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Alias Ali, Taha and six appointed members. They are Datuk Paduka Dr Saleha Mohd Ali, Toh Puan Dr Aishah Ong, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Tan Sri Dr Abu Bakar Suleiman, Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad and V.M. Chandran.

The time-frame would depend on the urgency of the case and number of applications received, If it was a very urgent case, it should be processed in one day, said Chua.

Between Sept 4, 2002 and Feb 26, 2004, NHWF handled 321 applications of which 277 were referred to government hospitals.

Chua said 44 applicants suffering from chronic illnesses were given RM1.5 million to seek treatment either in government or private hospitals at home or abroad. (See graphics)

They were treated at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (10 cases), University Malaya Medical Centre (nine); National Heart Institute (seven); Sarawak General Hospital (five); Kuala Lumpur Hospital (four); Penang Hospital and Sultan Aminah Hospital (two each) and one each at Kangar Hospital; Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital; Australian Craniofacial unit, Adelaide; Malacca Hospital and Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, Klang. “Another 35 cases are pending approval.”

Each applicant, Chua said, is seeking between RM40,000 and RM80,000.

On delays in processing some applications, Chua said: “It happens when applications are incomplete and the applicant does not give his contact number. The delay occurs when the committee has to track down the applicant to get more details or when no specialists’ reports were attached.’’

All applicants were interviewed to ascertain their background before applications are approved, said Chua.

“We try to expedite the processing of all applications and it is sad when, in spite of all the effort taken, accusations and criticisms are hurled at the ministry.”

He said there were times when the commit-tee went out of its way to help people whose plight was highlighted in the media, even though they did not put in their applications.

Chua said he had briefed the Cabinet and it had accepted his explanation.

“I also told the Cabinet that I believe there is a hidden agenda that needs to be investigated.”

On Wednesday, Chua gave a detailed account of all the four cases the newspaper had high-lighted. He said he hoped the public would understand what had actually transpired.

The minister also said the ministry was working on developing its own liver transplant centre at the Selayang Hospital.

The ministry is working with renowned Australian liver transplant specialist Prof Dr Russel Strong and Kuala Lumpur Hospital paediatric surgeon Datuk Dr Zakaria Zahari.

He said Malaysia had excellent medical services and many specialists capable of con-ducting major transplant surgery of hearts, livers and kidneys.

“In Selayang Hospital alone, we have nine liver specialists. Why go to private hospitals when, in government hospitals, patients in a third class ward can undergo major transplants for a minimum fee of RM500?’’