I refer to the Malaysiakini report The day a public hospital took my mother away.

The Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam, Selangor (Cassa) calls for a comprehensive review of Malaysia’s Patient’s Charter to spearhead accountability, professionalism and competence in Malaysia’s healthcare delivery system.

The purpose of this timely review is to address and maintain the call for safe and high quality care by addressing and articulating the key rights of all patients when seeking healthcare in Malaysia.

Cassa calls for the following nine areas (which is not all exhaustive) to be reviewed from time to time.They are as follows:

Access: There should be equity of access to public healthcare.

Respect: Respect, dignity and consideration always being the hallmark.

Safety: We should promote safe and competent care.

Costs: The costs should be fair and reasonable leaving no room for profiteering.

Communication: Communication is paramount and should be the trademark throughout the period of patient care.

Information: Information on treatment, services, care should be constant and periodically updated.

Participation: This facilitates informed decisions and choices.

Privacy: There should an assurance that personal data and information is secure.

Redress: There should be a professional mechanism having care and concerns addressed.

Cassa makes this call after hearing feedback and allegations on the high rate of mortality and blotched surgeries in Malaysia.

Cassa calls upon the Health Ministry to immediately set up an independent task force to investigate whether there is a rise in deaths and blotched surgeries in Malaysia.

Cassa is concerned whether there are doctors and surgeons operating when they should not?

Cassa also questions whether there is a regular certification and review process by a certification board before medical professionals are allowed to operate?

We are also concerned whether nationally we have a peer review board looking at the rising deaths and blotched surgeries and other related issues in a transparent, accountable and professional manner?

Cassa will be sending a memorandum on these concerns to the director-general of health services in Malaysia next week.

The writer is president Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam, Selangor (Cassa).