Private hospitals can’t turn away patients

NST: The days of private hospitals turning away patients who do not have money for a deposit will be over next month.
With the implementation of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act on May 1, they will be required by law to treat anyone admitted to the emergency ward whether or not the person can afford a deposit.
The Act also stipulates that the Health Minister and the director-general of Health will have the last say on the amount private hospitals charge their patients.
The Act comes in the wake of complaints about private hospitals turning away patients needing emergency care, and about exorbitant fees. Several people have died because some hospitals had apparently refused to treat them as they did not have the money to pay a deposit.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek told Parliament yesterday that private hospitals had been reminded to give emergency treatment to anyone regardless of whether he could afford to pay the deposit.
"Private hospitals will also have to keep the patient and the family updated on his condition," he said to a question by Huan Chen Guan (BN-Batu Kawan).
To another question by Huan, Dr Chua said under the Act, the Health Minister and the director-general would have the power to change the fee schedule if it was deemed unreasonable. He said the present fee schedule for private hospitals, approved by the Malaysian Medical Association, had a wide range.
"For example, an appendix operation can cost between RM800 and RM1,500. This gives the flexibility to a medical practitioner to fix extra charges," he said.
He said under the Act, the Health Minister would have the power to instruct private hospitals to carry out social or welfare services.
"This can be in the form of education and providing emergency treatment, discounts and exemptions on certain charges for the poor," he said in reply to a supplementary question from Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar.
Approached by reporters in the Parliament lobby later, Dr Chua said the Act would replace the Private Hospitals Act 1971.
"The ministry will meet all parties involved in private healthcare, including private haemodialysis centres. This will be done as soon as possible so they understand the regulations under this Act."
Saying it would be difficult to summarise the changes, he added the most important factor was that the Act would give more power to the director- general in areas such as monitoring, approving licences and enforcement. He said it would be impossible to list all changes under the Act, adding the ministry would hold a briefing to explain "everything".