KUCHING, Oct 28 — Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian has questioned whether Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen understands the financial and operational realities behind his proposal for the Sarawak government to establish state-owned private hospitals that charge public hospital rates for Sarawakians.
He said such an idea may seem appealing but in reality, it is not feasible without understanding the true cost of running a hospital.
He pointed out that if such a hospital were to be built, it would essentially mirror the existing Sarawak Heart Centre model, which was constructed by the state government but operated by the federal Ministry of Health (MoH).
“Considering the procedures at our Heart Centre, a procedure to unblock a heart artery would cost around RM8,000 to RM10,000 just for the materials used and not including the doctors’ and nurses’ fees or utility costs.
“So, just for the cost of the things we use to unblock an artery, it is already around RM8,000 to RM10,000. Would you call that affordable?” he told reporters when met after officiating the Sarawak International Conference on Ageing (SICA) at a leading hotel here today.
Dr Sim, who is Sarawak’s public health, housing and local government minister, said that because the federal government rents the facility from Sarawak at a token fee of just RM10 a month, this has allowed the MoH to subsidise the cost for patients, enabling them to pay only between RM300 and RM500 for the same life-saving procedure.
“That is why I’m not sure if YB Chong knows what he is talking about or not. He should do his homework first so that he will know what he’s talking about,” he said.
Chong on Sunday had urged the Sarawak government to consider setting up state-owned private hospitals that would charge public hospital rates for Sarawakians.
Sarawak DAP chairman argued that rather than pouring billions of ringgit into the Automated Rapid Transit (ART) project, the state funds could have been better utilised to build hospitals and save lives.
“With RM6 billion, the state government could easily construct five major hospitals and cover their operational costs for five years, including hiring sufficient doctors and nurses, and supplying medical equipment and medicines,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Sim on a related matter, called for Sarawak MPs to speak up in Parliament to ensure fairer treatment for the state, particularly in health infrastructure funding.
He said it is unfair that the federal government is funding for a cancer hospital in Kedah, while Sarawak had to finance its own cancer hospital project first before being reimbursed later.
“When I attended the first meeting in April, I found out that the federal government built a cancer hospital called the Northern Region Cancer Centre in Alor Setar with 200 beds, costing RM906 million.
“Why didn’t they ask the Alor Setar government to pay first? Why is it that when it comes to Sarawak, they ask us to pay first? Aren’t we all Malaysians?” he questioned.
He commended Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg for prioritising Sarawakians’ health by agreeing to proceed with the cancer hospital despite the funding hurdle.
“Our premier has been very kind. He keeps thinking of our people first. Since the federal government said they have no money, we don’t want to keep saying no money either, because we don’t want our people to die of cancer,” he said.
Dr Sim reiterated that Sarawak is already doing its best within its means but urged Sarawak MPs to “know what they are talking about” and continue fighting in Kuala Lumpur for the state’s fair share. — The Borneo Post
