FEB 21 — Dear Editor,
We wish to exercise our right to reply to the points brought forward by Dr. T. Jayabalan, The Citizens’ Healthcare Coalition (CHC) representative, as reported by Clara Chooi in your portal bylined February 18, 2012 entitled “Dr. M to blame for costly healthcare”.
Dr. Jayabalan was reported as saying that the corporatisation of Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) has resulted in IJN being one of Malaysia’s costliest specialist centres.
He was also quoted as saying that lower socioeconomic groups has “inordinately” long waiting time, while treatments are dispensed “overnight” for those who can afford to pay.
We wish to point out these facts to Dr. Jayabalan and the interest(s) he represents that:
1.The charges at IJN are fixed and controlled by the Government of Malaysia. Despite the corporatisation of IJN 20 years ago, our fees have remained capped by the government since the last revision approved in 2003. IJN is not allowed to increase charges concurrent of current market rates. Yet, despite these restrictions, IJN has managed to provide its services to more than two million people, since its inception.
From 2001 to 2011, IJN has attended to 1,610,130 outpatients; 134,492 inpatients, performed 89,136 invasive procedures and 33,530 surgeries. Its patients are of various creeds, ideologies and nationalities. We can’t achieve what we achieved if we are the costliest specialist centre in the country.
2. There are no waiting lists for patients deemed to be of emergent status. Their treatments’ requirements are dispensed commiserating to their emergent status, and the availability of beds. It is not uncommon for us to take over patients and immediately rush them to our procedural rooms for them to undergo emergency procedures.
3. For patients of the non-emergent status, the waiting lists to be seen in the Outpatient Clinic currently stands at approximately 10 days. The patients’ waiting list for a procedure ranges anywhere from a day to two months, depending on the emergent status.
4. The treatments’ dispensation is based on needs dependent. As IJN’s patients’ background are heterogeneous, it is natural to have segments of patients who can afford the treatments or otherwise. For patients with financial constraints, the Government has set up a mechanism to address these concerns within the IJN infrastructure. IJN also works with various organizations, political, private or NGOs to source alternative funding for needy IJN patients.
We hope that these facts will help Dr. Jayabalan correct his assumptions. While Dr. Jayabalan may be playing to his audience, there is really no need for him to paint IJN black to make his cause appear white.
Tan Sri Dr Robaayah Zambahari
Chief Executive Officer
Institut Jantung Negara
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.
