Kota Damansara

If we don’t save our public health care now, don’t expect it will save us tomorrow. 1 Mac 2010, 12-2pm, 4 Government Hospitals

PSM activist took time off on a working day to protest, to leaflet, to express frustration and call for the Government to immediately halt the proposed FPP (Full Paying Patient’s Scheme) scheme in four hospitals - SG.BULOH, SERDANG, ALOR SETAR & JOHOR BHARU. PSM leaders lead the protest in the four Hospitals. PSM sole MP, Dr. Jeyakumar led around 70 protesters in Alor Setar , while PSM National Chairperson Dr. Nasir Hashim held a protest at the Sungai Buloh Hospital. PSM Secretary General held a similar protest in Serdang while Mohan led the PSM assault in Johor Bharu. Besides PSM, members from the Islamic Party PAS, JERIT, SUARAM and other PSM-friendly union participated in the protest. Not many members of the public are aware of such a scheme (FPP) though the scheme had already being practiced in Putra Jaya and Selayang. From day one, PSM has been against any privatization of basic needs. In fact, when the government decided to implement the scheme in 2007, PSM along with other political parties and NGOs formed a Coalition against Privatization of Health Services and carried out a nationwide campaign. Yet the government not only adamantly pursued the pilot project in the said 2 hospitals, they were also intensifying Health Tourism! More and more private hospitals (about 45 new hospitals) were to be approved and licenses were issued. The new initiatives definitely are attracting more doctors to become private practitioners, living the government hospitals with scarce number of specialists. The Government move ultimately kills and undermines public health care. The neoliberal approach of the Barisan Government is seriously undermining the public health sector. To add salt, the new 1-Malaysia clinic too is tabbing human resources from the government hospital! While Health tourism sucks the specialist out of the Government sector, the 1 Malaysia clinic further takes away money and human resources out of these Government hospital living the staff as well as the people high and dry.

Our only Socialist MP, Dr. Jeyakumar who led the campaign since 2007 raised a question at the Parliament in Dec 2008 on the impact of FPP found in the pilot projects. The government’s reply, “the evaluation would be carried out after the completion period (2009) and it would be shared with the public”. The government forgot about their promise (as usual!) and so the MP asked them again for the evaluation report in December 2009. The shocking reply was, “both the patients and the doctors involved in the FPP are satisfied and the Health Ministry decided that this is a good scheme and it would be expanded to other government hospitals”. What does that Government answer mean? It means the patients who are rich enough to pay the doctor are happy with the service and so does the doctor who received ‘the payment money’ from! . But no feedback was asked on the 70% of Malaysian population who are made off from lower and middle income group who go to these Government hospitals. No queries were also asked to non-specialist Doctors on the impact of FPP on them. And it also does not mean that 100% of Malaysian population who wishes for efficient and more facilities at government hospitals can afford to be fully paying patient. This is why we need to have the evaluation report, for feedback from the majority who did not take part in the FPP scheme. We also need feedback from the trainees and the doctors as well. PSM felt that the Minister’s revelation in Parliament need to be countered. Not in the Parliament where the majorities are right wing politicians promoting neo-liberalism and capitalism. It need to be brought to the streets, to the hospitals and to the open. With this in focus, PSM called on others to come and join the protest. • Serdang Hospital – the serene protest was led by Comrade Arutchelvan, Secretary General of PSM. About 50 members of PSM, JERIT and PAS join hands in distributing about 2,000 leaflets about FPP and submitted memorandum to one of the Director’s assistant, Dr. Dinesh Raj who refuse to say anything except to collect the memorandum. • Sultan Ismail Pandan Hospital Johor – protest was led by Mohan of PSM. About 50 people from PSM, PAS, PKR, Suaram and Hindu Human Rights Party attended. 1,000 leaflets were distributed and their memorandum was accepted by Khadijah Abu Bakar, Deputy Director of the hospital who had nothing much to say either. • Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar – Member of Parliament for Sungai Siput and CC member of PSM, Dr Kumar led the protest. About 100 people from PSM, PAS, Aliran & Suaram turned up. About 2,000 leaflets were distributed at the Hospital premises. Memorandum was received by the Hospital Director, Dr. Juita and she was kind enough to say that she has already received instruction from the Health Ministry to implement the private wing in their hospital. • – Hospital Sg.Buloh- the peaceful protest was led by Dr. Nasir, the chairperson of PSM and ADUN Kota Damansara. About 40 people participated and the memorandum was handed over to the Deputy Director, Dr. Aminuddin bin Tauhid. Here too about 1000 leaflets were distributed.

PSM has been consistent in protecting the people’s basic right and the BN government too has been persistent in following the neo-liberal agenda – PSM is a small party and would do it’s best. Pakatan Rakyat with 4 states in their ‘control’ probably could do more to protect the people from being ‘sold off’ to the private owners. We can look at US who is practically the masters at Neo-liberal currently debating health reform because medicines, health treatments are bloody expensive that one can go bankrupt if any member of the family fell ill. It is already happening in Malaysia too. PSM is not against Doctors and specialist being paid more. We have called the government to use the IJN scheme for specialist. We are merely calling for Government Hospitals be kept in the best shape to cater for the majority of the people. We are calling for more money to be pumped in the public health care. We have to save ourselves from the disaster being dumped on us by the government of the day. It is time to fight back. Our public health care is fighting for its life and it is in its critical stages. If we don’t save it now, don’t expect it will save you tomorrow.

By Letchimi Devi.PSM