Why bill me RM11.60 for waiting in emergency room, patient asks private hospital

 

A picture of the bill given to a patient at a private hospital in Seremban.

SEREMBAN: A patient who sought minor treatment at a private hospital here has expressed shock after being charged for his wait in the accident and emergency (A&E) room as well as the transport of a monitor for unspecified reasons.

The bill, sighted by FMT, showed that the patient was charged RM11.60 for a 30-minute wait in the A&E room and RM34 for the transport of a “patient monitor”.

“I merely went for a jab,” the patient, who asked to remain anonymous, told FMT.

“I thought it was for the blood pressure and other checks they did while I was in the room, but it was not so as they charged RM10.60 for the observation of vital signs.

“If I had known that hospitals charge for waiting in their A&E rooms, I would have waited outside until I was called in. In any case, they are the ones who made me wait. I did not choose to do it,” he said.

He said he would be complaining to the health ministry, and voiced hope for an explanation from the hospital.

Checks with FMT at several private hospitals found that patients are not charged for waiting or the transport of medical equipment.

FMT has reached out to the hospital in question for comment. - FMT