Fee hike: UMMC patients worried but resigned
A patient, Siti Amira Sariyahtul, 38, who suffers from an auto-immune disease, said the hospital was being unreasonable as its fees were already higher compared to other private facilities...
Summary
Siti Amira Sariyahtul, 38, who is being treated for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, urges the government to improve the country’s healthcare system by channelling more funds to the sector.
Lee, 75, says he has no choice but to pay if he wants to continue receiving treatment.
V Ratah, 62, says she is fine with the new fees as long as treatment is up to par.
Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)’s move to increase its charges beginning Jan 1 has sparked dissatisfaction among its customers.
A patient, Siti Amira Sariyahtul, 38, who suffers from an auto-immune disease, said the hospital was being unreasonable as its fees were already higher compared to other private facilities.
“Patients who have personal insurance or come with guarantee letters from their companies might not feel the pinch because they do not pay for treatment from their own pocket.
“But this hike is a heavy burden for patients suffering from chronic illnesses who are still studying, or unemployed, or do not have insurance coverage,” she told Malaysiakini.
Siti Amira, who has been seeking treatment at UMMC since 2006, said the new charges will force existing patients to find other alternatives.
“Some might decide to transfer their cases to other government hospitals that are already over-burdened with too many patients.
“However, for patients who are suffering from rare diseases, they might not have any other choice because there are only a few that handle such cases, and one of them is UMMC,” she added.
Some who cannot afford to pay might even resort to discontinuing their treatment or procedures, she said.
Thus, Siti Amira urged the government to improve the country’s healthcare system by channelling more funds to the sector.
“If the government hires more doctors to specialise in rare diseases, then the patients, especially the poor, would have the choice to go to government facilities which charge much less,” said the woman, who is being treated for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
She also urged the Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry to recognise patients with such chronic diseases as persons with disabilities (OKU), which would help them financially as their medical treatment including at research universities like UMMC would be fully covered by the government.
On Jan 4, UMMC in a statement defended its decision to raise patient fees for procedures, treatment, and services, saying it was necessary to keep up with increasing costs.
This came in response to heavy criticisms that it received following the move, which reportedly saw patient fees increase up to 70 percent.
According to a report by Guang Ming Daily, the hospital’s ward fees are to be raised by 150 percent, from RM120 to RM300.
Fees for follow-up treatment at specialist clinics are to rise from RM15 to RM50, an increase of 233 percent.
The Malaysia Medical Association (MMA) has urged the hospital to increase its fees in stages, given that it is the sole public hospital that serves the Petaling Jaya area.
‘A reasonable move’
Meanwhile, a woman who only wanted to be identified as Mei, 38, believed that UMMC had to increase its charges to cover its operating costs.
“Perhaps they have to find a way to increase their revenue to cover operational costs.
“This is a reasonable move. Maybe there are other better ways but perhaps the medical costs today are too high and their charges were very low.
“Unless there are ways to help poor patients pay their bills... I am not sure who is responsible for this, either the government or the Health Ministry, but the rakyat needs an alternative,” said Mei, who takes care of her father at UMMC.
However, she expressed hope that patients will get better services with the fee increase.
‘Have to pay, what can we do?’
Another patient who identified himself as Lee, 75, from Petaling Jaya said he could only accept the decision as he had no other choice.
“Increase in charges is normal because prices of goods are also increasing. Whether it puts more burden or not, that is a different issue.
“But if we want to continue receiving treatment then we have to pay, what can we do?
“We just have to accept. We cannot do anything, the government also can not do anything. The private sector has increased their charges, so the government also has to increase theirs,” he said.
However, Lee also expressed hope for the government to look into the decision by UMMC.
‘As long as services are good’
For V Ratah, 62, she said she is okay with the new fee structure as long as the treatment provided by UMMC is up to par.
“Whether it is reasonable or not, as long as the services provided are good, we can pay.
“Besides, senior citizens like myself have to get treatment (for illnesses) and although I am a pensioner, there are instances where I have to pay out of my pocket because there are certain medications that are not covered by the government.
“So, as long as the services are good, I am okay,” she added.
