Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam today revealed that additional allocations had in the past been approved for purchases of reagents used in pathological laboratories at public hospitals nationwide.

"Our (ministry) secretary-general had given additional funding to those areas that had a shortfall.

"This is on top of allocations from the ministry, so the services can go on without interruption," Subramaniam told a press conference at the Federal Territories Health Department building.

"At the present moment I don't think we have any issues," said Subramaniam when asked for comment on Malaysiakini's report last week, with regard to a temporary suspension of laboratory services at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru.

The HSA has temporarily stopped accepting referrals from surrounding government clinics to perform various tests at its Pathology Department, citing "shortage of funds".

Among others, the tests were conducted to determine a patient's liver or kidney function.

An Oct 17 internal memo from its Pathology Department sighted by Malaysiakini also revealed that the shortage was at a national level.

In reassuring that the Health Ministry will uphold its commitment to provide affordable healthcare, Subramaniam however admitted that a growing demand for public healthcare services has placed a strain on the ministry's finances over the years.

"The number of patients entering our (public healthcare) system has steadily increased but our allocations did not increase in line with the number of patients," he pointed out.

Commenting further, Subramaniam said hospitals in higher density areas tend to run out of funds faster than the ones in remoter areas.

He also said the matter was an administrative issue and there was no reason for public hospitals to cut down on its services.

Action against errant concessionaires

Subramaniam, meanwhile, also revealed that a total of RM55 million in deductions were made from the total value of contracts awarded to five Hospital Support Services concessionaires from April last year to August this year.

Subramaniam said the deductions of RM26.7 million last year and RM28.3 million so far this year were for various breach of terms under their 10-year concession agreement.

"That (deductions) is if they failed to fulfill their responsibilities (under the agreement).

"But if there is any element of criminality, that is a different issue. We will not hesitate to report them to the relevant authorities," he said.

Among others, the contracts include for maintenance of facilities and utilities at all 148 public hospitals nationwide.

Subramaniam said this in reiterating the government's commitment towards ensuring that the recent fire at Hospital Sultanah Aminah would not happen again in future.

"We will not left any stone unturned in our search for truth and make sure anybody responsible will be taken to task."

Such actions, he said, would be taken based on outcome of an ongoing audit by an independent commission on existing maintenance procedures in place for maintenance of facilities and utilities at all public hospitals nationwide.