IJN not for sale...a national asset BUT is it to provide heathcare for all or just to make money and 'show off'?

It is good that the Health Minister has given us the assurance that the Malaysia's National Heart Institute (Institute Jantung Negara-IJN) is not for sale - ever.

IJN is a 'national asset' - to make profits....to 'show-off' our accomplishment or because it is for the people and to provide health care to everyone... 

But, is the IJN really for the people in Malaysia...all persons including private citizens and the poor...and the middle class. If so, get rid of very high charges that majority of ordinary Malaysian cannot afford.

IJN is not for profit-making - but to provide healthcare for all persons in Malaysia...and let us make sure that lack of money is not a bar to healthcare for any person.

Stop promoting medical tourism ...until we have adequate doctors and facilities to cater for all the persons in Malaysia....after that, if there is 'extra'  doctors and facilities, then we can start promoting medical tourism...can we do that, UMNO-led BN government...

The National Heart Institute (IJN), which was recently accorded a prestigious international accreditation, is not for sale and will remain with the Government, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.

“IJN is a national asset and our pride, and it will remain with the government. It’s permanently not for sale.

“We appreciate the contributions of the medical experts. It provides good service and in-depth research,” he said yesterday after attending the Kuala Lumpur Valve Summit organised by IJN.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, when addressing the summit, announced that IJN had recently won the prestigious Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, becoming the first government hospital to do so.

“This places IJN in an elite league of healthcare institutions worldwide.

“With the JCI accreditation, Malaysians and more importantly IJN patients, both local and foreign, will be assured of receiving internationally recognised and quality care.

Muhyiddin also commended IJN for its latest feat in performing the first valve implant in Asia without open heart surgery.

IJN chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Robaayah Zambahari said the United States-based JCI had looked at the quality and standard of their healthcare before awarding them the accreditation last week.

Liow said: “Doctors in IJN are not highly paid but they still prefer to give their service to the community and those who had intentions to buy IJN should snuff out such ambitions.”

On another matter, Liow also said the Prime Minister would be launching a Health Travel Council on Dec 21 to promote health tourism.

IJN chairman Datuk Mohd Salleh Ismail urged the press to play its part in discouraging people from trying to buy over IJN, while IJN deputy chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohd Azhari Yakub said 80% of IJN patients comprised government patients and those who could not afford treatment.

He added that discussions were ongoing with local and foreign parties to expand their research including on stem cells.

See earlier post:-