Chua’s dose of shocking news

Star: PUTRAJAYA: Some doctors have told Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek that they have forgotten how to deal with emergency cases.
He said he was surprised when he heard this, adding: “Malaysians will be shocked to know that private doctors do not know how to handle emergencies.”
He advised those who had lost touch with basic emergency care to go for refresher courses.
Basic emergency services, he said, were during life threatening situations such as stopping a patient from bleeding in accident cases, putting on drips, offering cardiac pulmonary resuscitation and placing intubations.
“All practising doctors must have the responsibility – in both the professional and ethical point of view – to know how to render first aid to patients,” he told reporters here yesterday.
He had earlier briefed private healthcare providers on the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services 1998 Act and Regulations 2006 that will come into force on May 1.
Among those who attended the meeting were operators of private hospitals, maternity and nursing homes, haemodialysis centre, blood banks and hospices.
The new Act will expand the ministry’s scope of control and coverage on private healthcare facilities and services.
The current Private Hospital Act 1971 and the Private Hospital Regulations 1973 are deemed to be inadequate.
For instance, the penalty for operating a private healthcare facility without licence under the current Act was a fine of up to RM1,000.
Under the new law, a sole proprietor can be fined up to RM300,000 or jailed six years or both, and a corporate body can be fined up to RM500,000.
Dr Chua said providing basic emergency care was one of the main items under the new Act.
“We (in the ministry) were once toothless tigers. Now, we have teeth,” he said.
Dr Chua said the new Act enabled the ministry to check on private hospitals and clinics when there were complaints from the public.
“Patients can complain about anything including the bill,” he said.
“The Act will be implemented in phases, starting with the Klang Valley and then to other parts of the country,” he said.