Cancer care, corruption, and a broken system

 

YOURSAY | ‘Patent rights were strictly enforced - humanity was nowhere to be seen.’

House for sale, life on the line: Cancer patient's heartbreaking battle to survive

Robbie98: When cancer strikes the young or a family breadwinner, it is a tragedy. Immunotherapy is now a preferred form of treatment, often used alongside radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

However, immunotherapy drugs are extremely expensive. Newer treatments can cost up to RM50,000 per cycle - yes, RM50,000.

In Malaysia, we import these drugs from Western countries where they are researched and developed.

Pharmaceutical companies register and hold patent rights for up to 20 years, contributing to high prices. India and China often produce biosimilar drugs that are available at a fraction of these costs.

However, patent laws controlled by large drug conglomerates ensure that such biosimilars cannot be freely marketed outside their countries.

A biosimilar version of Keytruda is available in India at one-fifth of the price. The same drug is sold in India by the original manufacturer at half the price. Why is this so? The authorities must answer.

This situation reminds me of the early days of Aids treatment. When Aids struck Africa, poorer populations were hit hardest.

The drugs, initially available in the United States and marketed by developers, were prohibitively expensive. Patent rights were strictly enforced - humanity was nowhere to be seen.

Then, a large Asian pharmaceutical manufacturer stepped in, producing affordable drugs for patients in Africa and Asia.

Despite being sued and denied access to the American market, the company persisted. Aids became a controllable disease with access to affordable treatment.

I hope an Asian company will have the courage to do the same for cancer drugs.

A word of caution to patients and families: do not sacrifice your financial security chasing a cure that may not be attainable, especially in advanced cancers.

Speak to your doctor. Ask what can realistically be achieved with expensive therapies. Listen carefully and make sure you understand before proceeding.

Universal healthcare funded by proportionate contributions - similar to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service - could be a solution, provided it is free from intermediaries and corruption. Godspeed.

XED: While ordinary people suffer, a handful continue to amass wealth through corruption, nepotism, overpricing, and pilferage - all at the expense of taxpayers.

The auditor-general’s reports over the years provide ample evidence. As a result, social services such as healthcare and education suffer because funds are siphoned off.

Meanwhile, the wealthy can travel abroad for treatment - sometimes funded by corrupt practices - while ordinary citizens struggle locally.

Businesses pass the cost of bribery to consumers through inflated prices or by cutting corners, resulting in poor-quality infrastructure, substandard public facilities, and inadequate services.

The burden falls disproportionately on the poor.

Even in public healthcare, there are instances of unfair resource allocation. Influential patients often receive preferential treatment. If the health minister claims ignorance, he should visit public hospitals incognito.

Why do healthcare staff rush to attend to VIPs while ordinary patients wait? The answer is obvious.

Are some seeking honours and promotions instead of upholding professional standards? Such conduct is disgraceful, discriminatory and harmful to patient wellbeing. Justice will only prevail when these practices are eliminated.

Elain Morais: Whatever happens, a patient should not sell their home. Doing so undermines the financial security of the entire family. No seriously ill person should be forced into such desperation.

We are a nation with conscience and compassion. Together, we can overcome.

The patient described appears overwhelmed and depressed, unable to process the situation fully.

A responsible adult family member should take charge - assess the medical condition, understand both immediate and long-term needs, and evaluate treatment costs carefully.

Government hospitals, such as those in Putrajaya, are said to offer excellent cancer care - including medical expertise, reasonable costs, and proper guidance - while respecting patients’ autonomy.

There is also an urgent need for structured crowdfunding for patients, prioritised based on prognosis, likelihood of success, and financial need. I would gladly contribute to such a fund.

GreenHare9358: Healthcare financing has been debated for decades, yet little has been done. One viable model is the United Kingdom’s National Health Service, which has served effectively for years despite minor challenges.

Malaysia could upgrade Socso into a comprehensive national health service, where contributions are based on income.

There are likely many similar cases.

Private insurance is an alternative but often comes with exclusions. This reinforces the need for government-led healthcare, with private options for those who can afford them.

Preventive care and early detection must also be prioritised to reduce long-term costs and improve outcomes.

Mano: I know of an advanced-stage cancer patient - a government pensioner in his 80s - who was told by both a government hospital and the Public Service Department that his medication could not be provided. He now relies on relatives in India to obtain it.

Why are we in this situation?

Public funds have been siphoned off while ordinary citizens suffer. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many lives were lost due to shortages of beds, ambulances, ventilators, and ICU facilities - failures rooted in mismanagement and corruption.

Even when funds are taken through legal channels, they may still be morally and ethically wrong.

The patient also expressed uncertainty about how his medication was prepared and administered, raising concerns about whether he received the full dosage.

I share similar suspicions - could there be manipulation to stretch limited supplies?

Perhaps I am overly suspicious, but the trust deficit in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors has deepened.

What was once a noble profession now appears increasingly driven by profit. - Mkini