GEORGE TOWN: Insurance agent Hazwah Arif Hassan could no longer keep mum after his client was charged a whopping bill of over RM10,000 for a minor medical procedure.
The 40-year-old was among some 100 people who turned up to express their grouses and concerns at the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) first public hearing session at AC Hotel in Bukit Jambul here yesterday.
The platform gives the public an avenue to share their views on how the surge in healthcare costs and insurance premiums has impacted them.
Hazwah lamented that his 26-year-old client, who was admitted for three days at a hospital late last year, was charged RM10,300 just to drain out pus from an infection.
“About RM6,000 of it went to hospital charges and it is unreasonable,” he said.
Hazwah said although the bill was covered by insurance, he felt it was not right for medical institutions to charge exorbitantly.
His concerns were similarly voiced by others present at the hearing, with some claiming that they were billed up to about RM96,000 for treatments that were not clearly specified or necessary.
Retired civil servant M. Murugappan, 71, whose wife had sought treatment at a private hospital in Penang, claimed that he had not been given explicit details of the charges.
“They told me that a certain blood test was done but it was not in the itemised bill.
“When I enquired, the hospital told me that they would write it down instead of being recorded in the computerised system,” he said.
Murugappan added that he has since written numerous times to the state Health Department and Health Ministry but to no avail.
Many who were present also expressed that hospitals should not be allowed to charge astronomical amounts or perform unnecessary procedures to reap profits.
However, an attendee who declined to be named, defended the private healthcare industry stating that medical practitioners were doing more to protect themselves.
“The rise in medical costs, which stems from more procedures being done, are mostly to protect the doctors from a legal aspect.“Doctors need to defend themselves to avoid being sued for negligence, thus they are trying to do the most to ensure that the patient is thoroughly screened,” said the man.
Proposals, complaints and sharing of experiences were recorded by officers present at the three-hour session.
PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said all the responses received would help in the upcoming proceedings.
Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, who moderated the session, added there was an urgent need for solutions to ensure sustainability in the private healthcare sector as health insurance covers a large population.
The session was held following public complaints of price surges in private hospitals, insurance premiums and their impact on public healthcare.
The next public hearing will take place on Feb 21 in Parliament’s banquet hall from 9am to noon for Klang Valley folk.
The PAC will also conduct closed-door proceedings under Standing Order 85 of the Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat, summoning key stakeholders, including relevant ministries,
The PAC has invited Bank Negara and Health Ministry officers to attend the hearing.
The public, including complainants against insurance companies and private hospitals, insurance policyholders, consumer association representatives, insurance company representatives, private hospital management and staff, specialist doctors, NGOs and citizens are invited to attend the public hearing.
All views will be heard and included in a report that will be tabled later in Parliament.
