IJN urged to keep fee hike reasonable

PETALING JAYA: The National Heart Institute (IJN) has been urged to keep its proposed fee hike to a maximum of 5% to prevent heart patients from flooding govt hospitals.

MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said this in a statement on Tuesday (Oct 15).

Here is his statement in full:

MCA notes a proposal from the National Heart Institute (IJN) regarding the proposed fee hike of 10 to 40% for patients referred by the Health Ministry, because, as informed by IJN, the fee structure has not changed since 2003. Nevertheless, we also appeal to the Finance Ministry, of whose jurisdiction of IJN comes under, to cap any increases to a maximum 5% so as not to burden patients especially those from B40 households struggling with rising living costs, in particular, private healthcare and insurance premiums.

However, we believe that any spike should be capped at a maximum of 5% and must be accompanied by a commitment and exercise to improved medical care and resources for patients, and better remuneration for staff.

Our concern aligns with the Health Ministry’s view that rising fees may cause more heart patients to seek treatment at government hospitals, further straining an already overworked system. The current waiting lists as reported in July 2024 (CNA, 17 July 2024) are alarming: Sultan Idris Shah Serdang Hospital has approximately 1,000 patients waiting for urgent, life-saving heart surgeries, while Penang General Hospital has about 850 patients in the same situation. The waiting time for such surgeries at Kuching General Hospital exceeds one year.

Moreover, the situation is exacerbated by the limited number of cardiothoracic surgeons available to serve the public. Currently, there are only 14 surgeons across the seven public hospitals performing heart surgeries in Malaysia. Notably, three of these hospitals—located in Kota Bharu, Kuantan, and Kota Kinabalu—have only one surgeon each, which significantly limits our capacity to meet the needs of heart patients.

In light of these challenges, we urge IJN to consider the broader impact of its proposed fee increase and prioritise a sustainable solution that supports both patient care and the well-being of our healthcare professionals.

Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon

MCA deputy president and MCA education consultative committee chairman