Act meant to weed out unqualified practitioners

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: "Doctors, just write to me at tionglai@gmail.com."
This was Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai's response to complaints about the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998.
Doctors had complained that the act was being unfairly enforced.
Liow said he was certain the act was not meant to penalise doctors in the private sector, but to help ensure good healthcare services.
"We really have to do something about the irresponsible ones. But this act is not meant to give people problems."
The act compels private practitioners to register with the ministry or face a fine of RM300,000. He said the act was meant to weed out bogus doctors and unqualified practitioners.
Doctors have been writing to the press recently to express their dismay over the Dr Basmullah Yusom case.
Dr Basmullah was jailed when he could not pay a fine of RM120,000 for failing to register his practice with the Health Ministry in January.
Liow, who took office last week, gave his private email address as he has yet to be assigned an official one.