Malaysian National News Agency
M'sians Enjoying World's Best Public Health Facility
Features
March 26, 2007 17:21 PM
By Zulkiple Ibrahim
KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) - The curtains were tightly drawn around a patient's bed in a ward at a government hospital here recently.
The clinical part of a medical degree programme examination was in progress and a candidate was being intensely "grilled" by the examiners on a patient's health condition.
A bell rang, signalling that the candidate's time was up and as the relieved final year undergraduate walked out of the ward, the examiners decided to take a short break.
"Malaysians are very fortunate. They are enjoying among the best healthcare facility available in the world," said Dr K. Prataap of the Madras Medical College.
Dr Prataap is one of the external examiners invited by the teaching hospital to assess its candidates.
QUALITY BUT AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE
Dr Prataap said the Malaysian government provides quality healthcare services that are affordable by the public.
"The Malaysian public should appreciate these healthcare services provided by the government as it obviously allocates a huge share of the country's annual budget for the health of its people," he said.
Dr Prataap said he was amazed by the number of public medical centres, hospitals and clinics in Malaysia.
"Malaysians are enjoying among the best healthcare services that the world can offer. The healthcare infrastructure in this country are better than those available in some developed nations".
He said Malaysia has healthcare clinics almost everywhere, even in the rural areas and its population receives treatment and medicines that is heavily subsidised by the government, something that is not readily available in other nations.
"Just look at the public outpatient clinics and healthcare centres that are available here (in Malaysia). The facilities are staffed by trained healthcare workers and well stocked with modern medicines, it is simply amazing," he told Bernama.
HOSPITAL, MEDICATION
Dr Prataap said in some other countries, the people can seek treatment at public outpatient clinics but that is as far as they can get.
"At this public outpatient clinics or district hospitals, the doctors will examine them and tell them of the diagnosis. They will refer those who are in bad shape to hospitals but the charges are sky-high".
In the other countries, those without medical insurance would face difficulties in getting hospital care as their respective government does not subsidise the costs, he said.
As for those with minor ailments, they are given prescriptions.
"But the medication is not available and has to be purchased at pharmacies. Malaysians are a fortunate lot as everything is available under one roof and almost free of charge.
"Even the foreigners like contract workers obtain their medicines at public hospitals at very cheap price," said the Madras Medical College lecturer.
SOCIAL WORKER
Social worker Lim Kui Seng agrees with Dr Prataap's views.
"Healthcare services in this country are among the best in the world. In other countries, if you are poor, it is highly likely that you would be deprived of medical treatment as the costs are high.
"But such things will not happen in Malaysia, at least not with the current government administration that places so much emphasis on the people's well being including their healthcare," said Lim.
He said Malaysians should not give the excuse of not having money if they deprive themselves and their family from the needed medical treatment.
"They can turn to charity organisations or Socso (Social Security Organisation). For Muslims they have bodies like the Baitulmal that can provide assistance to pay for the medical treatment," he said.
Dr Prataap said in other countries, especially the third world nations, if an individual does not have funds for the required medical treatment, it means like signing his own death warrant.
"No money means no medical treatment. The patient will ultimately suffer," he said.
HEAVILY SUBSIDISED
For medical practitioner Dr Hassan Eusofee, the cost for healthcare maintenance in Malaysia is heavily subsidised by the government.
"Take for example the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). It is heavily subsidising the cost of medications for those who seek treatment at its outpatient clinics".
It also caters to civil servants and government pensioners who pay almost "nothing" for their outpatient treatment and a token fee for any hospital stay.
Dr Hassan said he is surprised when some patients complained that the medicines at public hospitals are expensive.
"Try to get the medication elsewhere, like private clinics and hospitals, the price is definitely four to five times higher than that of UMMC's," said the bespectacled 46-year-old graduate of Universiti Malaya's (UM) medical faculty.
As for inpatients who incurred high bills for hospital stay, they can apply to pay in instalments," said Lim.
"Hence government hospitals like the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (KLH) or UMMC are not that bad, as thought by some members of the public. They provide among the best treatment available and are equipped with up-to-date facilities.
"However these healthcare institutions may lack funds as they are not earning any money.
Of course public health institutions cater to a high number of patients. If you wish to complain about the long waiting time and lack of beds, then nothing much can be done as the queue is quite long, Lim said.
"Almost all private hospitals provide air-conditioned rooms and television sets with Astro. But has the public ever think of the quality of medical personnel at some of these private hospitals, whether they are well trained or the otherwise".
AID NURSES
Dr Hassan said the public does not realise that some private medical centres employ untrained people to be their nurses.
"These people are actually aid nurses, unlike the well-trained staff nurses in government hospitals. Operating from shop houses, several of these so called private hospitals usually 'outsource' the treatment to visiting specialists".
Dr Hassan said the specialist would visit the private hospital once or twice a week and write down the treatment plan for the respective patients.
The application of treatment would be done by an in-house doctor or most of the times, the nurses.
Like what Dr Prataap said, Malaysians are fortunate to be provided with quality healthcare treatment.
Thanks to a caring government that leaves no stone unturned in subsidising the heavy medical costs for the wellbeing of Malaysians.
-- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) - The curtains were tightly drawn around a patient's bed in a ward at a government hospital here recently.
The clinical part of a medical degree programme examination was in progress and a candidate was being intensely "grilled" by the examiners on a patient's health condition.
A bell rang, signalling that the candidate's time was up and as the relieved final year undergraduate walked out of the ward, the examiners decided to take a short break.
"Malaysians are very fortunate. They are enjoying among the best healthcare facility available in the world," said Dr K. Prataap of the Madras Medical College.
Dr Prataap is one of the external examiners invited by the teaching hospital to assess its candidates.
QUALITY BUT AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE
Dr Prataap said the Malaysian government provides quality healthcare services that are affordable by the public.
"The Malaysian public should appreciate these healthcare services provided by the government as it obviously allocates a huge share of the country's annual budget for the health of its people," he said.
Dr Prataap said he was amazed by the number of public medical centres, hospitals and clinics in Malaysia.
"Malaysians are enjoying among the best healthcare services that the world can offer. The healthcare infrastructure in this country are better than those available in some developed nations".
He said Malaysia has healthcare clinics almost everywhere, even in the rural areas and its population receives treatment and medicines that is heavily subsidised by the government, something that is not readily available in other nations.
"Just look at the public outpatient clinics and healthcare centres that are available here (in Malaysia). The facilities are staffed by trained healthcare workers and well stocked with modern medicines, it is simply amazing," he told Bernama.
HOSPITAL, MEDICATION
Dr Prataap said in some other countries, the people can seek treatment at public outpatient clinics but that is as far as they can get.
"At this public outpatient clinics or district hospitals, the doctors will examine them and tell them of the diagnosis. They will refer those who are in bad shape to hospitals but the charges are sky-high".
In the other countries, those without medical insurance would face difficulties in getting hospital care as their respective government does not subsidise the costs, he said.
As for those with minor ailments, they are given prescriptions.
"But the medication is not available and has to be purchased at pharmacies. Malaysians are a fortunate lot as everything is available under one roof and almost free of charge.
"Even the foreigners like contract workers obtain their medicines at public hospitals at very cheap price," said the Madras Medical College lecturer.
SOCIAL WORKER
Social worker Lim Kui Seng agrees with Dr Prataap's views.
"Healthcare services in this country are among the best in the world. In other countries, if you are poor, it is highly likely that you would be deprived of medical treatment as the costs are high.
"But such things will not happen in Malaysia, at least not with the current government administration that places so much emphasis on the people's well being including their healthcare," said Lim.
He said Malaysians should not give the excuse of not having money if they deprive themselves and their family from the needed medical treatment.
"They can turn to charity organisations or Socso (Social Security Organisation). For Muslims they have bodies like the Baitulmal that can provide assistance to pay for the medical treatment," he said.
Dr Prataap said in other countries, especially the third world nations, if an individual does not have funds for the required medical treatment, it means like signing his own death warrant.
"No money means no medical treatment. The patient will ultimately suffer," he said.
HEAVILY SUBSIDISED
For medical practitioner Dr Hassan Eusofee, the cost for healthcare maintenance in Malaysia is heavily subsidised by the government.
"Take for example the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). It is heavily subsidising the cost of medications for those who seek treatment at its outpatient clinics".
It also caters to civil servants and government pensioners who pay almost "nothing" for their outpatient treatment and a token fee for any hospital stay.
Dr Hassan said he is surprised when some patients complained that the medicines at public hospitals are expensive.
"Try to get the medication elsewhere, like private clinics and hospitals, the price is definitely four to five times higher than that of UMMC's," said the bespectacled 46-year-old graduate of Universiti Malaya's (UM) medical faculty.
As for inpatients who incurred high bills for hospital stay, they can apply to pay in instalments," said Lim.
"Hence government hospitals like the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (KLH) or UMMC are not that bad, as thought by some members of the public. They provide among the best treatment available and are equipped with up-to-date facilities.
"However these healthcare institutions may lack funds as they are not earning any money.
Of course public health institutions cater to a high number of patients. If you wish to complain about the long waiting time and lack of beds, then nothing much can be done as the queue is quite long, Lim said.
"Almost all private hospitals provide air-conditioned rooms and television sets with Astro. But has the public ever think of the quality of medical personnel at some of these private hospitals, whether they are well trained or the otherwise".
AID NURSES
Dr Hassan said the public does not realise that some private medical centres employ untrained people to be their nurses.
"These people are actually aid nurses, unlike the well-trained staff nurses in government hospitals. Operating from shop houses, several of these so called private hospitals usually 'outsource' the treatment to visiting specialists".
Dr Hassan said the specialist would visit the private hospital once or twice a week and write down the treatment plan for the respective patients.
The application of treatment would be done by an in-house doctor or most of the times, the nurses.
Like what Dr Prataap said, Malaysians are fortunate to be provided with quality healthcare treatment.
Thanks to a caring government that leaves no stone unturned in subsidising the heavy medical costs for the wellbeing of Malaysians.
-- BERNAMA
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