Pengguna perihatin

Fomca accused the Ministry of neglecting its responsibility by not taking firm action against errant private hospitals, although it was empowered to do so under the Private Hospitals Act 1971.

Its secretary-general, Muhd Shaani Abdullah, criticised the Ministry for “continuing to issue warnings” to private hospitals, despite ample proof that some of them had neglected their responsibility.

“The case of Khairul Anuar Salim is a classic example. Why has the Ministry not revoked or suspended the licence of the private hospital concerned?

“The Health Minister should resign if those under his charge do not know what their priorities are,” he said.

Muhd Shaani’s criticism comes in the wake of the statement by Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek that the Ministry would suspend or revoke the licences of private hospitals which did not give emergency treatment to patients in need.

Khairul Anuar, 17, was allegedly denied emergency treatment by a hospital because the family could not immediately pay the RM5,000 deposit.

His uncle, Sallehuddean Latiff, claimed that the hospital only treated his nephew an hour after he was sent to the hospital on Saturday.

“They did not want to treat him until I paid a deposit.

“They only took him into the operation theatre when his situation turned critical, by which time it was too late,” he said.

Muhd Shaani said doctors and those who managed hospitals should remember that their primary duty was to save lives.

He said the Ministry should be held responsible for allowing this degradation in values as it had the power to act against those who neglected their primary duty as healthcare providers.

“Has the licence of any private hospital been suspended or revoked in all these years that cases of negligence have been reported? Khairul Anwar’s case was not the first and I believe it will not be the last for as long as action is not taken against those who fail in their duty.”

# posted by share n care @ 8:17 AM