Health of nation at heart

Star: SEVERAL major projects will be undertaken next year to guarantee that Malaysians continue to get access to adequate health services.
Among them are the Ulu Kinta Allied Health Science College, Kuala Pilah Nursing College, Kluang Hospital, Tampin Hospital and Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital.
A women and children's hospital will also be built, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when tabling Budget 2008 yesterday.
He said RM13bil had been allocated to improve the quality of hospital services, and to buy medical supplies and health equipment.
Abdullah said medical specialists would get extra cash with the implementation of the Full Paying Patient scheme (FPP) in hospitals beginning next year.
The FPP gives patients the option of being treated by specialists of their choice in a first-class facility and be charged accordingly.
The specialists will receive part of the payment from the scheme beginning Jan 1.
The Government would also train additional nurses in private training centres to overcome the shortage of nurses, he added.
Abdullah said RM76mil would be allocated to effectively contain contagious diseases, and for intensive care unit services and dialysis in government hospitals.
The private sector has been given incentives to encourage them to invest in laboratories of international standards. A 100% Pioneer Status or Investment Tax Allowance of 60% for five years has been proposed.
Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin said the implementation of the FPP was important to retain medical specialists from going to the private sector.
“Not every specialist wants to go to the private sector. They want to serve the country but sometimes, the remuneration is too low,” he said.
Coalition Against the Privatisation of Healthcare secretary Dr D. Jeyakumar said he was disappointed with the Government's decision to implement the FPP in hospital.
He said this could create problems, such as overworked specialists due to the longer hours for extra income.