Private hospitals, clinics can refer civil servants to IJN

Star: SEREMBAN: Civil servants and pensioners will be able to get referrals from private practitioners and hospitals to the National Heart Institute (IJN) from Oct 1.
Public Services Department director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam said their spouses and certain family members would also qualify for the free treatment at IJN.
Presently, civil servants and pensioners can only be referred to IJN by doctors from government hospitals or clinics.
He said this in a circular dated Sept 25.
Cuepacs president Omar Osman said the Government’s move reflected efforts to improve the public delivery system.
“Government employees, particularly retirees, will not have to queue up at public hospitals or clinics and wait even longer to get treatment at the IJN,” he said when contacted.
Omar said the Government should also bear the cost for government servants and retirees who seek treatment at private hospitals and clinics.
“Guarantee letters should be issued on the spot or electronically. You cannot expect them to pay first and claim later as they may not have cash with them,” he added.