A 29-year-old man in Malaysia has sold all his possessions to pay for his wife’s stage four cancer treatment at a government hospital. Despite holding valid documents, the couple have been unable to secure assistance, forcing them to appeal to the public for donations.
The plight of this Malaysian citizen who is married to a foreign national must raise critical questions and demand honest answers if our leaders are going to walk their talk.
Why must someone sell all he has to pay for medical bills from a government hospital where his wife is seeking cancer treatment?
And even after selling all gold and his only car, he has to beg for donations from the public. This is how desperate the situation has become in the country.
This dilemma faced by the father of two very young children is certainly neither rare nor isolated.
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There are numerous similar cases among friends, relatives and family members – especially those from low-income households and even from the middle class – who have struggled desperately to seek critical medical and health care.
We are constantly led to understand that medical and healthcare is free in Malaysia, or, if not free, that it is subsidised.
But then, why do we hear of people having to sell their possessions to pay for critical life-saving medical care sought from government hospitals?
Why do they have to turn to the public for donations to meet these unaffordable costs?
Why is a nation endowed with natural resources unable to provide free medical and healthcare, especially to a deserving segment of society?
Have we reached a stage where only the rich and those who have the means to secure premium insurance schemes can enjoy quality medical and health care?
Have we reached a stage where the poor and the working class have to rely on the ever-growing queues in public hospitals where cash payments often precede caregiving?
Perhaps it is time for us to critically examine such reported cases and review Malaysia’s healthcare system with honesty.
Or, we can continue to divide the nation, creating a two-class society – with the rich elite receiving prompt top-class care while the poor are burdened with hefty bills for critical illnesses.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Married to a foreigner is not a crime. Give them PR status and free med care for the sake of the family. We all are creatures of GOD. We all pray to GOD. Than do the right thing for the sake of the family. And our service to God
Stil not too late for the government to introduce a National Health Service scheme for all our citizens. The Madani government will leave an indelible legacy if it does.