Support charitable healthcare centres 


Letter by Vijay Shanmugam, The Sun 4th April 2011


I WAS shocked to read that the Health Ministry had decided to issue a one-month notice to close down the Pertubuhan Haemodialysis Seberang Perai Selatan in Simpang Empat, Seberang Perai, Penang.

According to a report five Health Ministry officials had visited this centre on March 30 and ordered it to close by May 1 or be fined RM500,000. This centre is run using contributions from the public. It does not rely on any financial aid from the government. I do not know the reason and the rational as to why the ministry had to come up with such an inconsiderate and inhumanitarian decision.

This centre is doing a fine job by saving lives of poor kidney patients who cannot afford the expensive cost for dialysis. Renal failure patients need the treatment three to four times a week. Each treatment costs from RM180 to RM200.

Instead of closing down the centre the ministry should help the centre meet any criterion that it lacks, thus encouraging more charitable centres.

Health costs have sky-rocketed and the lower-income group has been badly affected. Charity organisations involved in healthcare are a blessing for the needy. Every man, woman and child is guaranteed under the Federal Constitution their rights to have free medical care. By right the government should provide these kind of free medical support and centres.

The government should support any charitable organisation that voluntarily fulfils these noble roles instead of slapping them with closure orders and heavy fines

Read letter in full here