Review the ways poor patients receive help

DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong Dr Tan Seng Giaw calls on the Health Ministry to reviews ways which are used to help patients who cannot afford the treatment in public clinics and hospitals.

Make it easier for truly deserving patients to have access to Tabung Bantuan Perubatan (Medical Aid Fund).

On 16.11.2011, Dr Tan spoke at the committee stage in Parliament on the budgetary allocation of RM18.9 billion for the Health Ministry.

Poor patients in the world cannot afford medical treatment. This is particularly true for patients with chronic ailments such as heart disease.

To get medical treatment in public and private clinics and hospitals, patients often have to borrow, amounting to perhaps thousands of ringgits. Some who can afford it refuse to pay. Many are genuinely poor.

The minister talks of various ways for deserving patients to get reduction in payment, such as paying only RM500. There is Tabung Bantuan Perubatan (Medical Aid Fund).

We hope the ministry reviews the various ways to help deserving patients.

Tan Seng Giaw