May 28, 2014
COMMENT:
A friend brought to my attention this article (below) which was published in The Sun Daily recently, and since my own alma mater, The University of Malaya, is mentioned in Annie Freeda’s report, I feel I should make my views known about the idea of allowing specialists at the University’s Teaching Hospital (University of Malaya Medical Center) to cash in on private patients at UMSC (University of Malaya Specialist Center) as a way of giving them extra income .
In principle, this is wrong and unethical and can be abused. Using the resources and facilities of the University is for private gain is unacceptable. These specialists should devote their time to research and teaching, and to treat all patients at the teaching hospital, irrespective of their income status and social standing, not spend their time away from their primary duty.
If they want to earn more, they should set up their own practice and take the risk that comes with it. Alternatively, the University’s Board of Directors under the chairmanship of Tan Sri Arshad Ayub should review their remuneration packages and terms and conditions of service to induce them to remain with the University.
Otherwise, I would suggest to the Board that they should privatise the UMSC so that those who did not wish to do research and teach can practise there without enjoying the benefits of being part of the University’s teaching hospital. In that way, we can eliminate any conflict of interest that may arise from the present arrangement which has apparently been abused.–Din Merican
Specialists at government and teaching hospitals cash in on private patients
by Annie Freeda Cruez@www.thesundaily.my (May 26,2014)
PETALING JAYA: A scheme to let government doctors earn extra income in a bid to retain them is allegedly being abused, as some senior medical consultants are said to be focused on seeing “full-paying patients” during office hours, rather than in the private wing only after office hours.
Some of these doctors, especially surgeons, obstetricians and gynaecologists, are believed to be taking home as much as RM500,000 a year just seeing full-paying patients and doing locum duties in the private sector.
Some of these specialists are said to be seeing between 2,000 and 3,000 full-paying patients a year, so much so some of them have been asking junior doctors to see their public hospital patients, while they see full-paying patients. There are also allegations that some of these consultants are seeing full-paying patients in the wards during office hours.
According to sources, this is happening at University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC), and at the Putrajaya and Selayang hospitals.
Despite this, it is understood the Health Ministry plans to open private wings in other major public hospitals.Several patients said there is a conflict of interest in allowing government doctors to also practise in the private wings of public hospitals, as they tend to cater more to full-paying patients.
In an immediate response, UMMC director Prof Datuk Dr Ikram Shah Ismail said its private wing, the University Malaya Specialist Centre (UMSC), has been in operation for 10 years.
“We have strict regulations governing doctors practising in the private wing. They are allowed only three sessions a week and that too, only in the afternoon and after office hours. Many a time, the doctors can have only one or two sessions a week due to the heavy commitment at UMMC,” he said, adding that doctors are not allowed to transfer patients from UMMC to UMSC.
Asked if there were doctors who have been found to have violated the regulations, Ikram said there had been cases.”Yes, we have suspended the doctors,” he said, without giving any statistics.
“We are strict on this matter and will not hesitate to take action on those who flout the terms and conditions,” he said, adding that doctors who practised in the private wings do not take home all the money they get as they also contribute towards the department and for the training of junior doctors.
Asked on doctors checking private patients in wards, he said they can for the safety of patients when the need arises.Private wings were introduced at government hospitals to halt brain drain.
Malaysian Medical Association President Datuk Dr N.K.S. Tharmaseelan said it must be borne in mind that the scheme was introduced to provide senior doctors with additional income to offset the low salary, poor perks and promotion prospects. However, he stressed that specialists should not abuse the noble scheme, or else the government may have to scrap it.
He urged hospitals and universities to tighten monitoring to prevent abuse of the scheme.Tharmaseelan said MMA also hopes the government will revise and introduce more incentives, perks and allowance including fast-track promotion for senior doctors. He said although the abuse may not be as rampant as alleged, it should be nipped in the bud or else it will mar the image of such creditable and respected institutions.