Liow must understand the people's concern about 1Care - Wan Azizah

KEADILAN welcomes the recent statement by Health Minister Dato Seri Liow Tiong Lai that the government is still far from finalising the healthcare model to be used in the 1Care system. Liow must understand the rakyat’s concern due to the importance of healthcare and the less-than-sterling record of Barisan Nasional in pushing transparent and credible reforms.

We hope that Liow clearly explain at what stage is the consultation with the stakeholders and public taking place. The government must truly take the rakyat’s input in the consultation process, and not make it merely a public relations exercise obsessed with ‘low-hanging fruits’ and ‘quick gains’ that was the case with the PM’s New Economic Model.

What worries KEADILAN is the value of Liow’s guarantees in view of the recent Lynas flip-flop. After the government had assured that the radioactive waste from Lynas is safe to be stored in Gebeng, Pahang, Liow then announced that it must be sent back to Australia. Soon, however, the PM declared that the waste will be stored in another location far away from any settlement (while abandoning the commitment to return it to Australia).

Low allocation

As mentioned in my earlier statement, we note that government expenditure at 2.2 percent for health as a percentage to GDP in Malaysia in 2008 is still lower than the WHO recommendation of 5 to 6 percent. WHO has also estimated that 20 to 40 percent of government expenditure in health is wasted on inefficiencies including corruption.

Thus an increase in government expenditure for health combined with a more transparent and efficient system will greatly improve the health system in Malaysia without the need to resort to 1Care.

We also appreciate the questions raised by the Institute of Democratic and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) on Pakatan’s proposal for a National Health Service Commission as mentioned in Buku Jingga.

KEADILAN is agreeable to an independent commission to ensure that health, being such a vital human right is sufficiently protected. As mentioned in our earlier statement as well, our philosophy that healthcare is a right does not mean that we are against the private health sector, which has played a crucial role in contributing to the nation’s well-being today. But we want the inequalities that exist today to be addressed to ensure that quality healthcare remains accessible for all.

DATO SERI DR WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL IS THE  PRESIDENT OF  PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT