Lack Of Publicity Blamed For Controversy Over Medical Fund

KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Bernama) -- Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek has admitted that the ministry does not publicise the Medical Assistance Fund (MAF) and as a result, controversies have emerged over it.
Lack of understanding among the relevant parties on the fund's management was also a factor why the MAF had been the target of criticisms, he said in reply to Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) in the Dewan Rakyat, Thursday.
Dr Chua said the ministry had held dialogues with representatives of non-governmental organisations, Umno Youth and MCA public complaints bureaus, MIC and the media with a view to reducing bureaucracy in tapping the fund.
"Those who were present were satisfied with the way the MAF is managed as practised by the ministry," he said.
He also stressed that overall, the MAF had functioned well to assist patients who could not afford to pay for medical treatment based on the amount of aid of over RM7 million disbursed since the fund started operations in January last year.
"I would like to state in this honourable house that the aid disbursed by the fund is specially for medical treatment including medicine and equipment which cannot be obtained from government hospitals," he said.
Dr Chua said the fund could not give out aid for treatment at private hospitals if the treatment could be obtained at government hospitals.
When asked to disclose the names of those who have received aid from the MAF, he said: "I ask not to disclose their names to protect their privacy."
He said from January 2005 to March 10, 2006, 466 had received aid from the MAF and 205 of them were Malays, 123 Chinese, 102 Indians and 36 Bumiputeras from Sabah and Sarawak.