Hospitals didn’t turn away cancer patient, says Sarawak health director

 

A report claimed that a cancer patient was denied treatment as she did not have a MyKad. (JKN Sarawak pic)

KUCHING: Two government hospitals in northern Sarawak have never denied a cancer patient, whose identity card was reported to have been confiscated by the national registration department (JPN), from receiving treatment.

Sarawak health director Dr Ooi Choo Huck said the 65-year-old patient’s daughter had been contacted and confirmed that Lawas Hospital and Miri Hospital had never refused to treat her mother.

“The department wishes to point out that health services continued to be provided to the patient regardless of her MyKad registration status and nationality,” he said in a statement today.

Ads by Kiosked

The statement was issued following a report by a news portal which claimed that the woman, Lina Samuel, was facing difficulties in undergoing treatment after her MyKad was seized by the JPN in November last year.

The report said Lina Samuel’s identification card was seized when she tried to change her address to enable her to vote in the 15th general election.

Lina had claimed that she was told by the department’s staff that her MyKad was confiscated following an order from a superior officer.

Ooi said the patient was under the supervision of a surgeon at Miri Hospital who had performed several procedures on her between Feb 15 and March 20 this year.

“She was also given an appointment for follow-up treatment at the hospital’s specialist clinic on April 17.

“The patient was also treated at the emergency and trauma unit at Lawas Hospital on April 1, this year, where she underwent an examination and was referred to the doctor on duty who treated her accordingly,” he added. - FMT