JOHOR BARU: A Johor exco member has called on the Health
Ministry to take legal action against an online news portal over a baseless
report on the death of a Singaporean here recently.
According to Bernama, Johor Health, Environment, Education
and Information Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat (pic) said he was saddened
over the report as it had affected the morale of the state health department’s
personnel.
and Information Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat (pic) said he was saddened
over the report as it had affected the morale of the state health department’s
personnel.
“I am saddened by this news report. As such, I urge all
parties to respect the profession of those in the healthcare sector, especially
in Johor, by not painting a negative picture,” he said in a statement here
Friday.
parties to respect the profession of those in the healthcare sector, especially
in Johor, by not painting a negative picture,” he said in a statement here
Friday.
Ayub was commenting on the report by theindependent.sg which
claimed that there was slow response time of up to 30 minutes by an ambulance
from the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) following a fatal road crash involving
25-year-old Singaporean Justinian Tan on Aug 25.
claimed that there was slow response time of up to 30 minutes by an ambulance
from the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) following a fatal road crash involving
25-year-old Singaporean Justinian Tan on Aug 25.
The report claimed that HSA had demanded a deposit from the
victim’s family before treating the patient.
victim’s family before treating the patient.
“Basically, it has been a practice by the emergency
department staff of all government hospitals not to ask for a deposit before
any treatment for critical cases including foreigners. Therefore, I deny that
the case was due to the delay of the ambulance or due to issues of payment,”
said Ayub.
department staff of all government hospitals not to ask for a deposit before
any treatment for critical cases including foreigners. Therefore, I deny that
the case was due to the delay of the ambulance or due to issues of payment,”
said Ayub.
Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham
Abdullah refuted the claims made on the
portal in a statement on Friday.
Abdullah refuted the claims made on the
portal in a statement on Friday.
He said that there was no demand for payment by HSA before
giving treatment to the victim as claimed.
giving treatment to the victim as claimed.
“The emergency department team also initiated necessary
imaging treatment and made the referral to the relevant team in a very timely
and professional manner, without asking for any deposit since this is an
emergency case,” he said.
imaging treatment and made the referral to the relevant team in a very timely
and professional manner, without asking for any deposit since this is an
emergency case,” he said.
Dr Noor Hisham said that such practice was in line with the
ministry’s circular with regard to deposit payments for foreigners in
government hospitals.
ministry’s circular with regard to deposit payments for foreigners in
government hospitals.
As for the injury to his brain, he said the patient was
referred to the neurosurgery team and the hospital conducted necessary
treatment without a demand for deposit.
referred to the neurosurgery team and the hospital conducted necessary
treatment without a demand for deposit.
“The family was only asked to proceed with payment of
the imaging (treatment) amounting to RM2,575. However, the family members opted
for discharge ‘at on risk’ and arranged for admission to a hospital in Singapore
after understanding the risk involved of further delaying the surgery,” he
said.
the imaging (treatment) amounting to RM2,575. However, the family members opted
for discharge ‘at on risk’ and arranged for admission to a hospital in Singapore
after understanding the risk involved of further delaying the surgery,” he
said.
He urged all parties to be responsible in reporting,
commenting and releasing inaccurate information and baseless statement that
could lead to misunderstanding.
commenting and releasing inaccurate information and baseless statement that
could lead to misunderstanding.
Tan was travelling with a group of friends in Johor Baru
when the accident took place along Jalan Dato Abdullah Tahir in Taman Abad.
when the accident took place along Jalan Dato Abdullah Tahir in Taman Abad.
It was reported that they were heading back to their car at about 3am when a Malaysian-registered
car collided into them from behind and drove off.
car collided into them from behind and drove off.
A person from the group named Joshua detailed the ordeal,
including how the ambulance took a long time to arrive at the scene of the
accident.
including how the ambulance took a long time to arrive at the scene of the
accident.
He claimed that upon reaching the hospital, they were asked
to pay RM1,350 each before its staff could start giving them treatment.
to pay RM1,350 each before its staff could start giving them treatment.
Tan, who lost consciousness during the accident was put on
life support on Monday, but passed away at 12.30pm on Wednesday. – The Star Online
life support on Monday, but passed away at 12.30pm on Wednesday. – The Star Online
