Hospitals being checked for Certificate of Fitness for Occupation

NST: More than 200 hospitals nationwide are being checked by the Health Ministry to make sure they have a certificate of fitness for occupation (CFO) and that their specialists are up to the mark.
The checks on the 237 private hospitals come after a nationwide exercise to register 7,300 private clinics nationwide.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said all private hospitals must have a CFO before they are allowed to operate as the safety of patients is paramount.
"Not only that, we must make sure specialists are not specialists in name only. Some may have the qualifications but they do not have hands-on skills and experience.
"The Ministry’s Specialist Registry will ensure only qualified and capable specialists are allowed to call themselves specialists and give treatment in private hospitals," he said.
Dr Chua was speaking to reporters after a Chinese New Year celebration organised by MCA Gelang Patah division at SK Pu Sze here today.
He presented ang pow to 17 single mothers and 50 fax machines to schools ravaged by the floods in December and January. The machines were sponsored by Brother International (M) Sdn Bhd.
Dr Chua said all doctors in private practice have registered with the Ministry as required under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act.
"Previously, anyone could could call themselves a doctor and set up a clinic. Now, all doctors must display an annual practising certificate so that patients will know whether or not they are genuine,” he said.
In the past two months, Dr Chua said two people who impersonated doctors in Johor Baru have been arrested under the act. They face a fine of RM300,000 or a jail term of six years, or both.
He also said two private hospitals will be built in the Iskandar Development Region.