Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr Ravindran Naidu said the slowdown in the economy over the last two years and the burden of GST, has driven many patients to make the switch from private healthcare to that provided by the government.
“The health ministry has also mentioned this, providing data that shows an increase of 30% in the number of people going to government hospitals,” he told FMT.
Ravindran added that this massive increase in patients at government hospitals as well as the reduced budget allocations to the health ministry over the past two years, have in turn resulted in a “shortage” of medication.
“If there is an increase of 30% in patients there should be an increase of medical supplies by 30% too. However, due to the cuts, hospitals are being more careful with dispensing medicine.
“It is not that hospitals do not have medicine, they are just being more careful and justified with dispensing it,” he said.
Ravindran urged Prime Minister Najib Razak to increase the budget for healthcare and also to remove GST for healthcare completely.
“The government should stick to their initial stand of not charging GST for healthcare. This would make healthcare more affordable for the people.”
Costly medicine
Veteran economist Ramon Navaratnam said these were difficult times for civil servants, pensioners and the general population who need medical care.
“People are suffering due to lack of medicine and also costly medication because hospitals are facing shortages. Even bandages have to be bought by patients,” he told FMT.
The former secretary-general of the transport ministry questioned if the government’s cash flow was so bad that it had affected healthcare in the country.
“Is the government so short of funds? Can’t the government adjust its budget priorities? Will Budget 2018 address the matter and rectify this grievious and painful problem affecting so many low-income civil servants and the poor rakyat.
“What is Cuepacs doing about this? Don’t forget that these civil servants have sacrificed for the nation and they surely need more care and compassion in their twilight years.
“Do not forget they are voters. Let’s be more concerned for the millions of civil servants, pensioners and members of the public who can only afford government hospitals, please,” Ramon urged the government.
FMT also spoke to a doctor who wanted to remain anonymous. He concurred that there was a shortage in medicine, medical supplies and budget for lab tests in government hospitals and clinics.
“There is definitely a shortage of medicine in the country as the budget has been reduced.
“The budget for 2016 was less than 2015 and the budget for 2017 was less than 2016. This was confirmed during our state and district meetings. We were briefed about the reduced budget,” the government doctor told FMT.
The doctor who works in a government clinic in a district in Negeri Sembilan, said some tests and investigations had to be scrapped due to lack of supplies.
“For example, we could not monitor one patient’s diabetes control because the HBA1C reagent had finished. So we aren’t exactly sure if the control over a three-month period is good or poor.
“On and off, different reagents finish and we have to wait for additional funding, which may come a couple of months late.”
A medical project consultant, 29, based in the Klang Valley said another glaring shortage was medical equipment.
“Most hospitals can’t afford proper medical equipment due to lack of budget so they resort to sharing machines between hospitals. I find that there is a shortage of non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) machines and diathermy machines,” she said.