News/Notices News Business News PM wants Sime Darby to guarantee treatment for poor if it takes over IJN 
| PM wants Sime Darby to guarantee treatment for poor if it takes over IJN |
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| Friday, 19 December 2008 08:01am | |
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©The Malaysian Insider (Used by permission) KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 - The government will allow Sime Darby to take over the National Heart Institute (IJN) if it can guarantee that the low-income group can still afford treatment there. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi said this today when asked about uneasiness over the privatisation of the quasi-government hospital. IJN is a leading heart medical centre in the region, offering comprehensive cardiac services under one roof and is 99.99 per cent owned by the Ministry of Finance. Its fees are regulated by the government, offering first-class medical treatment at below market rate. The government-linked company (GLC) confirmed its interest in IJN yesterday when it filed a proposal with Bursa Malaysia. "We have to weigh up some factors which cause uneasiness. The lower-income group can enjoy treatment there but if it is privatised then fees may be raised," he said. "But if we can get a guarantee, then it will not be seen in a bad light," he said of the cost of medication and treatment for poorer citizens. Abdullah said that the field of medicine required many changes to keep a facility at the cutting-edge. "If we want the latest equipment and the best specialists, then wages will go up and it costs a lot to continue to increase the performance, the number of beds and operating theatres. "So this is an advantage of a takeover by a GLC, which is close to the government," referring to the fact that the government will be able to monitor its operations. Abdullah added that it was not a matter of whether the government could bear the cost of running the institute but that if there was an opportunity to expand the medical network, then it should be considered. "Then we can work on opening a different hospital, perhaps outside of Kuala Lumpur," he suggested. Comments (1)
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Circular No 108/2012: Best Deals for International Malaysia Law Conference (26 to 28 Sept 2012)
Why SPECIAL treatment for the poor only?
Medical treatment should be for everyone who qualifies - as a citizen who works hard for the GDP of the nation.
Those who are rich would not want to step into IJN. Therefore, the others who step into IJN, even if they are rich, ought to be charged similar rates. Otherwise, the nation would not be treating them fairly.
Rich or poor, there should be no special treatment for any category of citizen; and IJN ought to be maintained by the Government without it being sold to any other party.
Tan Peek Guat