No Bureaucracy In Medical Aid Fund, Says Dr Chua

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek Friday dismissed a claim that bureaucracy in the Medical Aid Fund operations has rendered channelling of aid to needy patients difficult.
The previous rules have been scrapped and replaced with simpler procedures, he said.
"I can give an assurance there is no bureaucracy," he told reporters when asked on a report that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wanted Dr Chua's ministry to get rid of bureaucracy in the fund's operations in the interests of the needy.
Dr Chua said completed application forms would be processed in two weeks and among aspects to be assessed were the need and justification.
"Among our problems are incomplete application forms and no recommendation from doctors. Some send letters requesting for the aid and some paid for the treatment first before applying. How can?" he asked.
Dr Chua said previously his approval was needed before an aid was disbursed but the power had since been delegated to the officers.
The condition that applicants' monthly income must be below RM600 and the requirement to get recommendation from government doctors had also been scrapped.
"Now, an applicant only needs to fill a personal information form and attaches his salary slip, Employees Provident Fund statement and recommendation from the Social Welfare Department," he said.
The applicant must also get a recommendation from a registered and qualified doctor, he said.The issue arose after a mother from Butterworth said she faced bureaucracy problems when applying for aid from the fund to treat her three-year-old daughter Intan Syafiqah Mohamad Fauzi who suffered a chronic liver ailment.
Dr Chua said the fund could only be used for treatment and surgery at government hospitals.
In Intan Syafiqah's case, he said, she could have received treatment and underwent surgery at the Selayang Hospital which had the best specialists in the region and an outstanding record.
"Unfortunately, her parents didn't want to and we're blamed for bureaucracy.
"In terms of eligibility, she was not eligible because they sought aid for a surgery in a private hospital," he said.
Intan Syafiqah died on Oct 25 last year before the surgery.
Dr Chua said the ministry had tabled a note in the Cabinet, saying that the girl died not because of bureaucracy. "We will deliver the latest information in the coming Cabinet meeting," he said.
He also said of the RM100 million grant promised by the government for the fund, the ministry had received RM25 million.