SOME RM595mil was spent treating patients at the National Heart Institute (IJN) last year, with the bulk comprising government pensioners, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Of the 44.257 patients treated there last year, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pic) said 26,782 were pensioners with treatment amounting to RM358mil.
Some 16,303 patients treated last year were civil servants whose treatment amounted to RM200mil, while the remaining 1,172 comprised patients from low-income backgrounds with treatment coming to RM37mil.
“This shows that the government continues to fund pensioners as well as patients from low-income groups requiring treatment only available at IJN,” Dr Dzulkefly said in a written reply yesterday.
He explained that treatment at IJN can be considered if the patient has received prior treatment at a government hospital and was later referred by either a government hospital general physician, cardiologist or emergency specialist.
“In emergencies, pensioners and civil servants can seek treatment at private hospitals, including IJN, subject to guidelines stated in related circulars.
“For patients from low-income backgrounds, government subsidies are subject to a socioeconomic evaluation by Health Ministry officers.”
Dr Dzulkefly was responding to a question by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (BN-Bera), who asked if IJN still has a welfare fund to assist underprivileged patients.
Separately, the Health Minister said some 157,285 medical staff served at Health Ministry facilities nationwide as of March 31 this year.
This comprised 38,955 medical officers (69,890 nurses, 19,885 assistant medical officers, 12,899 pharmacists, 8,635 specialists and 7,021 dental officers).
Of the total, 135,108 were employed as permanent staff while the remaining 22,195 were on contract.
Dr Dzulkefly said the ministry and federal agencies are also conducting an intake of 27,724 medical officers, nurses, assistant medical officers, pharmacists, specialists and dental officers, in stages.
In a written reply to Zahari Kechik (IND-Jeli) who asked about the number of healthcare workers currently in service, Dr Dzulkefly said there is currently one doctor, including specialist, for every 46 people; one dental officer for every 2,343 people; one pharmacist for every 1,626 people: one nurse for every 282 people and one assistant medical officer for every 1,326 people.
