In the Star

Chua: Private hospitals fear potential competition BY K. SUTHAKAR KUALA BERANG: Private hospitals fear the competition that may arise from the proposed setting up of private wings in government hospitals, said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek. He said some people were worried the move would affect the quality of service in government hospitals. “We have to strike a balance between the profit-oriented private sector and the Government’s responsibility of providing services at minimal rates. “These matters would be looked into by the special Health Ministry committee studying the proposal,” he said, after visiting the Hulu Terengganu Hospital here yesterday. He said the private sector “will always come out with lots of reasons.” He declined to elaborate.

The animosity between the government and private sector is evident from the above news report. I think the Government would fear more from losing doctors, than the private sector of competition arising from private wings in Government hospitals. The biggest worry from the setting up of such a private wing is whether patients that can ill afford the payment be given an equal quality of service from doctors especially the specialists. The fear is that the disparity between the quality of such services will widen the already worsening gap between the rich and the poor.

It will cause confusion. In the current system, there are many patients who can ill afford to pay even the lowest of charges. Will these patients now be neglected as the specialists concentrate more on making more money? Who will then attend to these patients? How much time will these specialists or doctors spend on poor patients? Will there be a difference in the quality of service ie better services for patients that pay?

I feel that we are heading in the wrong direction. The Government it seems is avoiding the responsibility of increasing the renumeration of doctors. Bottomline is doctors need a different and higher payscale. A payscale that reflects the sacrifice given in under graduate training, in active duty, in post graduate training and so forth. We need to feel a sense of appreciation from the Government. We are like any other employees. We need to know if we are being appreciated. One way is by means of a better payscale.

We need to set up a nationwide insurance scheme similar to Medicare in the United States. It will be a challenge but I think there is where the answer to better medical services lies. The setting up of private wings in Government run hospitals will only widen gaps in social stratas in Malaysia. At this moment, only the middle and upper groups can afford insurance schemes and thus the right to medical services in the private sector. Poor citizens should be afforded that right to choose as well.

We need to work as a team with better cohesiveness. Creating animosity between the same group of professionals does not augur well for the profession.