Orang asli clinics in new hands

Star: PETALING JAYA: The orang asli community is set to enjoy better medical treatment as the Health Ministry will be taking over all of its health clinics and services beginning this month.
This includes the Gombak Orang Asli Hospital which had been embroiled in controversy in the past for allegedly catering to a large number of non-orang asli patients, including foreign workers, and for its alleged sub-standard treatment of orang asli patients.
Things have improved over the past year following a complaint and exposure by one of its doctors, who was transferred to another state not long after.
However, the call for the Health Ministry to take over the services did not diminish.
The problem-plagued hospital became the centre of attention in early 2010 after Dr Selvaa Vathany Pillai claimed that its alleged mismanagement and abuse of power had resulted in the poor treatment and care of orang asli patients.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said his ministry would take over orang asli health clinics and services, which had been under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, from this month.
“The Cabinet has approved it. We will be providing services similar to other government hospitals.”
An orang asli linked to the hospital expressed hope that the takeover would be permanent, claiming that some quarters had threatened not to support the change.
“We hope it is never given back to Jakoa (the Orang Asli Development Department under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry).
“Previously, there had been many complaints on the treatment and care of orang asli patients.
“Our healthcare should come under the Health Ministry,” he said.
Dr Selvaa had also highlighted the high incidence of malnutrition and the absence of standard operating procedures to record, monitor and treat under-nourished children, as practised by hospitals under the Health Ministry.
The department, which was then known as the Orang Asli Affairs Department, had denied all allegations and said Dr Selvaa's transfer to Kedah in March 2010 was a Health Ministry directive.