The present debate on Ras Adiba Radzi's unusual treatment and support by the Malaysian public vis-a-vis her ability to raise almost RM400,000 has its merit. Because it is she who puts her case before the Malaysian public.

Surely all those who have donated and shown sympathy and even offered prayers have the right to know what has been happening since then.

It makes me wonder if the Ministry of Health is aware that some years ago it issued a ruling barring just about anybody from raising funds for the purpose of using it for medical treatment.

If I am not mistaken anyone who wishes to raise public donations, including through newspapers, will need the approval from the ministry which will then issue a letter before funds can be sought from the public.

Even then, those who are in desperate need will be placed in government hospitals where they can get free medical treatment, without having to seek donations in the first place. Unless of course, if the treatment is not available in the country.

This was back then when Malaysia did not have as many hospitals, public as well as private. I am sure the situation has changed dramatically as we can now do even open-heart surgeries and organ transplants. Surely our medical expertise has also improved dramatically for other ailments too.

The reason why the regulation was introduced was the exposé of several people who had unscrupulously raised funds on the pretext of seeking medical treatment abroad, but whose health condition was not too serious to merit such assistance.

The ministry had then insisted that those people have to submit their medical reports to the local hospitals first before they can raise funds from the public so that their real condition can be ascertained.

It had hoped to weed out those who are not deserving to beg for financial support from the Malaysian public.

Also, the regulations state that if the treatment is available in Malaysia the patient will have to undergo treatment in the country.

Has the Ministry of Health forgotten about this regulation?

I hope in future those who are seeking financial assistance from the Malaysian public will have to be open with their medical cases, so that our local specialists can attend to them first.

As for the Ras Adiba's case, the public did not know what her actual condition was before she left for Sydney, Australia.

Because she seeked financial donations from the public — through the media no less — the public has all the right to know the truth.

For all we know, whatever her problems, it could have been treated by local hospitals which might even offer her free treatment or discounted fee.

Good-hearted specialists have often treated poor patients who could not afford the fees for free in the past.

I do not want to cast doubts on Ras Adiba's plight, but I am nevertheless unnerved by the way she has appealed before the Malaysian public.

When asked, she said her recuperation will probably take up most of the money that was donated to her. But didn't she initially said she needed RM300,000 just for the operation alone?

Besides, the expenditure for the recuperation period will probably be for the payment of the hotel bills and food for her and her assistant. This will eat up most of the money.

She would be better off staying back in Malaysia for whatever surgery she might need and recuperate with family members here.

I had spent one-and-a-half year recuperating from three surgeries while I was living in America so I know what it is like. During the period I only had to make occasional visits to the hospital for the doctors to check on my condition and progress.