Second healthcare forum in Johor Baru on April 28

AsiaOne By Lim Wey Wen The Star/Asia News Network Sunday, Apr 15, 2012

PETALING JAYA - The second healthcare transformation forum, planned by the Health Ministry to collect public feedback with a view to reform, will be held in Johor Baru.

The forum is part of a series of roadshows held nationwide.

In an announcement posted on its website, the ministry invited the public to take part in the "Making Healthcare Equitable and Accessible for All" forum at Johor Allied Health Sciences College in Johor Baru on April 28.

The forum will be at 2pm-5pm. Those interested in attending are encouraged to register with the ministry at daftarforum@moh.gov.my.

The first forum was at the Institute for Health Management in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, on March 31.

More than 100 healthcare professionals and the public, including top ministry officials, have attended the roadshow. There was criticism that the public was given too short a notice as the forum was only announced less than a week before the event.

The forum, moderated by Universiti Sains Malaysia pro-chancellor Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan, featured three panellists International Movement for a Just World president Dr Chandra Muzaffar, Primary Care Doctors' Organisation Malaysia representative Dr Mahendran Markandoo and Health deputy director-general (medical) Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had said the ideas and opinions expressed during the roadshows would be compiled for the ministry's consideration, while discussions with technical working groups on the country's healthcare reform would continue.

He had also said the ministry would look into better ways to inform the public about upcoming forums, including posting details on the ministry's website.