Health DG disputes family's claim Najib was discharged while in bad shape

 

Najib Abdul Razak was in good health when he was discharged from the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL), said Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

This was amid complaints from Najib’s family that the former prime minister - whose condition deteriorated today - was discharged despite being in ill health.

Najib - who is serving a 12-year jail sentence - was first reported to have been admitted to HKL on Monday, Sept 4.

The next day, his daughter Nooryana Najwa revealed that Najib was hospitalised for stomach ulcers - a problem he has suffered from for years which can lead to internal bleeding.

However, according to Noor Hisham, Najib was admitted to HKL on Friday, Sept 9, for an elective check-up to ensure he was in optimal health, and not for an emergency.

It is unclear if Najib was discharged and then readmitted on Friday, or if he had stayed in the hospital from Monday onwards.

Noor Hisham said that tests were conducted on Najib by experts, including heads of departments.

He added that the hospital held two family conferences to update Najib’s kin on the test results - and that the doctors unanimously decided he could be discharged.

They were also informed that all medications prescribed while he was warded were of the “same type” and were on the Health Ministry’s list of medications.

“He was also healthy before he was allowed to be discharged,” the Health Ministry director-general said.

Proper healthcare on ‘humanitarian grounds’

However, Najib’s family have a different version of events.

Nooryana Najwa (left) and her father Najib Abdul Razak

Nooryana said on social media today that a scope was performed on Najib on Saturday, in which new ulcers were discovered.

“During the scope, the doctors at HKL also did a biopsy which led to some bleeding and the ulcer had to be clipped to stop the bleeding.

“Najib requested for observation at HKL but was denied, the doctor discharged him and today Najib attended court,” she said.

She also said that doctors changed his medication from the usual that he had been taking.

Najib had to be sent back to the hospital today, with deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram saying the former prime minister’s condition was “quite bad”.

According to Nooryana, a test by a medical assistant this morning showed Najib’s blood pressure was dangerously high “potentially due to the change in medication”.

Nooryana then made a plea for her father to receive proper medical attention

“On humanitarian grounds, our family pleads with the prison authority, the hospital and Ismail Sabri’s government to do the right thing and allow dad to receive proper medical care and observation,” she said. - Mkini