HEALTHCARE WELFARES OVERLOOKED IN SABAH

DAP Sabah state assistant secretary Junz Wong said up to today, Sabah, despite purchasing over QEH II (SMC), only has one set of RT external /CT Scan /TPS machines for cancer treatments.

Healthcare Issue 1:-

Junz said, "Before 2009, QEH I has one CT Scan machine for DIAGNOSTIC only. Now that Government has taken over SMC (QEH II now) in 2009, Sabah then own one extra set of CT Scan machine for DIAGNOTICS + RT Treatment planning purposes."

QE Hospital had been renting RT/CT scan from SMC for Cancer patient treatments till 2009. All these while QEH has only owned one CT scan machine for diagnostic ONLY. Junz explained.

Dr Heric has refuted allegations that Sabah cancer patients have been sent to Kuching & KL for treatments saying there were false accusations.

Junz answered critics : QEH I may own a CT scan machine but it is only meant for diagnostic purposes. QEH II now has 2 separate set of machines for cancer treatments:-

a) HDR brachytherapy machine solely for woman cancer treatment is total damaged. Cannot be used at all thus there were many cases where female cancer patients were sent away for treatments.

b) RT external/CT SCAN/TPS (Treatment Planning System) for cancer treatments. All 3 separate machines must be in working condition in order to give proper treatments but each different machines always break down on monthly basis due to a few reasons : overworked because it was used for both private and government patients, treatment sharing for example diagnostic and cancer treatment. As a result, Sabah patients were sent away from treatments when the machines are under maintenance works.

After 49 years of independence, Sabah has got a raw deal for healthcare welfares. KL has 5 sets of cancer treatment machines, Kuching has 3 sets, UM has 2 sets, UKM has 2 sets whereby Sabah only has 1 overworked worn down set of cancer treating machines.

Healthcare Issue 2:-

Junz Wong who is also DAPSY KK assistant Youth Chief said, In November 2009, Govt has taken over SMC and thus has taken over all facilities and equipments. Apparently, SMC has no new building thus they have rented SMC building from Govt which was a 2 years contract till November 2011.

Since the contract has expired, SMC proposed building was not ready yet and thus SMC continued to stay at QEH II building. However, the problem is, no proper contract since Nov 2011, SMC should renew to compensate government via public fund for continuous occupation of QEH II. It should not be free of charge.

DAP Sabah demanded Health ministry and Health Director to come clean with this issue as it is tax payer money which has been compromised. Why has a new contract been drafted and signed to ensure compensations.

Looking at the progress of the new building development, i can safely say that the building will take at least another 2 years to be completed thus a contract is mandatory to safeguard the public interests and has to be done immediately. Junz concluded. - Sabahkini