Fast aid

Star: KUALA LUMPUR: A special fund named D’tik (Fund for Persons in Critical Condition) was launched yesterday, promising cash for treatment or equipment to save lives or restore function.
An initial RM5mil has been allocated by the National Welfare Foundation and will be channelled to government hospital patients beginning with 17 hospitals nationwide.
The fund was launched by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who is also the foundation’s chairman.
Shahrizat said aid could now be given as quickly as within 24 hours, depending on how soon the foundation receives verification from the hospital.
Among the criteria for the disbursement of funds are: patients who face a life or death situation, who are under threat of permanent loss of function, who need urgent medical intervention between 24 hours and 72 hours, and who are on life support or critical intervention. The fund is not for follow-up treatment or those with chronic diseases.
Dr Chua said the amount disbursed per patient would not exceed RM20,000 and is for treatment, equipment or special medication needed for the critical period.
However, he said the criteria was flexible and D'tik's officials would consider the situation, needs and humanitarian factors.
He said the contingency fund would be widely implemented, including in disaster situations where money could be used for services such as renting of ventilators for patients needing intensive treatment.
Shahrizat said a special squad had been set up to work round the clock in order for the applications under D’Tik to be processed swiftly.
Dr Chua took to task his ministry’s Medical Aid Fund which needed to speed up its approval process as there were still complaints that it took much longer than the promised two weeks.
He told a press conference later that there were instances when the officer in charge went on leave and no one “took up the case” despite some cases being approved within 10 days.
“We promise that it will be in two weeks but it cannot be denied that there are still many complications and it could not be processed within that time,” he said.
Up to June this year, RM22.6mil had been allocated to 1,693 patients and an additional RM25mil has been allocated this year due to an increase in applications.