Government has No "Heart" for its Rakyat

CCM Youth notes with grave concern the Government’s plans to privatize the National Heart Institute, i.e. Institut Jantung Negara (“IJN”), Malaysia’s only public heart hospital. 

CCM Youth opposes all attempts to privatize IJN. Such privatization proposals should not only be postponed, but no longer be allowed to proceed. 

The Government should not be perceived to be aiding or abetting any privatization proposals that are detrimental to the well-being of its people. Publicly listed companies like Sime Darby Bhd have deep pockets and are quite capable of building their very own private heart hospital given their successes with SJMC, without depriving the people of its sole public facility. Not only is there is no justification whatsoever, given that IJN is a beacon and an excellent example of responsible public stewardship, and remains one of the very few public institutions that we Malaysians can be very proud of, it is also a flagrant and irresponsible act that can only result in further burdening the Rakyat. Quality healthcare is a right of the people.

The Government should consult ALL IJN’s stakeholders including community-based NGOs, institutions representing senior citizens, community workers and more importantly, direct care givers such as the doctors, nurses and the rest of the community, including consumers.

CCM Youth rejects outright all false assurances of lower costs and improved services rendered, as research has shown that privatization moves globally can only result in adding another costly layer that further burdens the taxpayer, with little or no improvement in efficiency or effectiveness. We call on the Government to consider consulting leading thinkers such as by Nobel Prize winner and economist Paul Krugman, and read his comments on issues pertaining to medical care and medical insurance.

The Government, by virtue of the size of its healthcare system, is reasonably capable of bargaining for lower drug and medical equipment prices and eliminate middlemen, whilst private hospital lack the bargaining power to do so. Public hospitals also have no need to publicize, hence savings in marketing and overheads can be passed on to the benefit of taxpayers. 

CCM Youth urges the Government to stop flirting or plotting the pass-through of full healthcare and drug costs onto the Rakyat, but to remain focused on creating crucial and coherent strategies that address the current deteriorating economic situation. 

The Government must not shirk its responsibility towards ensuring that ALL segments of the Rakyat are able to enjoy higher standards of living and better quality of life through further improvement of all areas of public services rendered, ranging from healthcare to transport to education to utilities. The Government must be fully accountable for bridging and narrowing the widening gap between the rich and the poor in this country. 

In this regard, CCM Youth reiterates that the Government should also take into cognizance the changing demographic landscape of the country with its growing ageing population and the implications on future economic policies and planning.

CCM Youth urges the Government to seriously look into the creation and implementation of holistic policies that will further improve the delivery of a successful universal health care system for the full benefit of its people and provide conducive conditions for sustaining the country’s attractiveness as a vibrant, caring and competitive nation. 

We suggest the implementation of a “Community Referendum” on issues of public interest so that the people are consulted while improving accountability and transparency in the process of policy making in this country.

Chrisanne Chin
Youth Moderator & EXCO Member
Council of Churches of Malaysia 
Mobile| +6012 237 6102
Email| Chrisanne.chin@gmail.com 

Dated this December 24, 2008