Kuala Lumpur - I was immediately wheeled into the treatment room after arriving at the University Malaya Medical Centre`s Trauma Unit.
Within minutes a team of doctors and nurses surrounded me. A medical specialist conducted a quick check up on me and a few hours later, I went through an operation that had in all probability, saved my life.
I did not expect Malaysian hospitals to be so efficient. All this while I had a different impression of the delivery and standard of medical service in this country, 57-year-old Australian tourist Peter McDonelly told Bernama at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) orthopaedics ward, here recently.
McDonelly, who suffered injuries in a road accident while visiting a friend, was impressed with the medical facilities and infrastructure available in this country.
"The people must have benefited a lot from these public healthcare facilities. Malaysians should be thankful to their government for providing such excellent healthcare services to meet the people`s needs," said McDonelly.
McDonelly`s wife, Audrey, shared similar opinion.
"In some other countries, it is rather difficult to get immediate medical attention even though a person is badly hurt. Before you can be admitted to a hospital, you have to show proof that you have medical insurance coverage. Otherwise you will be denied admittance, no matter how sick you are," she said.
Audrey said the public healthcare facilities here are excellent and Malaysians were fortunate to have a government that cared for the people`s welfare, particularly where healthcare is concerned.
VISITING PROFESSOR
M. Maniprakash, a professor from Madras Medical College, who had come to Malaysia on several occasions, as an external examiner for the MBBS and MD medical courses offered by local universities, is also impressed with the healthcare facilities provided by the government.
"Malaysians should be thankful as they have excellent public healthcare facilities and services that are among the best in the world, he said.
Maniprakash admitted that he is impressed by the standard and quality of local universities. Your government must have invested a lot of money to ensure that the people`s well being are taken care of," he said.
HIGH SUBSIDY
Malaysians presently enjoy a relatively high standard of health, with the government committed to the principle of universal access to high quality health care.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Government always takes care of the welfare of Malaysians, to the extend of subsidising up to 95 percent of their medical expenses and 90 percent on the education of their children.
"This is really high and we do this because we care for the rakyat (citizens)," he was reported to have said in his speech after laying the foundation stone for the national food terminal project at Padang Tunjung, Kota Baharu, Kelantan last Feb 4.
NINTH MALAYSIA PLAN
The Government of Malaysia has been very receptive and responsive to the needs of the Health Ministry and has always provided financial support for implementing appropriate health services for the people.
In this regard, the Ministry`s operating budget has increased by 60 percent over the last five years, from RM 5.13 billion in the year 2002 to RM 8.21 billion in 2006.
For 2007, the Ministry has been allocated a sum of RM 8.34 billion. One of the challenges faced by the Ministry is the escalating cost of health care, attributed in part to the over-dependence on government healthcare facilities, the introduction of new technologies and drugs, and changing demographic and epidemiological patterns.
To improve Public Health Services, an allocation of RM 3.3 billion has been provided for under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) as compared to RM 1.3 billion during the previous period.
To enhance the healthcare delivery system, a sum of RM 4.2 billion has also been allocated for the upgrading and renovation of health care facilities compared to only RM 2.4 billion during the 8MP period.
The Government`s emphasis has shifted from building more hospitals to upgrading and better equipping existing hospitals.
Source: www.bernama.com.my (8 Februari 2008)
