No ‘runners’ authorised for Full Paying Patient services at Sarawak Heart Centre, says State Health Dept director

Sarawak Heart Centre at Kota Samarahan. Photo credit: Sarawak Heart Centre's website

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Aug 15: Sarawak State Health Department (JKNS) director Dr Veronica Lugah has clarified that the Sarawak Heart Centre (SHC) does not authorise any ‘runners’ to assist in obtaining the Full Paying Patient (FPP) services.

In a press release, Dr Veronica stated that patients can access FPP services through referrals from registered medical practitioners (government or private) or by self-referral.

“Patients can schedule an appointment with the relevant clinic over the phone or in person. Appointments can be scheduled on the same day if there is a space.

“However, this service has no effect on the turn of other public patients because FPP cases are seen by the specialist after the consultation of public patients with appointments on that day is completed first.

“Procedures involving FPP cases are also typically held outside of office hours or on weekends,” she said.

She was responding to a viral social media post alleging misconduct by medical officers, nurses, and runners at SHC who profited from patients.

Dr Veronica went on to say that SHC is a government hospital that provides FPP, the implementation of which is subject to the Fee (Medicine) (Full Pay Patient) Order.

“Through FPP, patients will be charged full fees without a government subsidy to obtain medical treatment services from specialist medical officers at government hospitals,” she added.

Furthermore, she noted that FPP is a medical treatment service provided by medical institutions to patients where patients can choose a specialist medical officer to treat them as well as a queue facility to receive the treatment.

She explained that fees would be charged for each service, including registration fees, consultation fees, investigation fees, consumable and disposable goods fees, and so on.

Dr Veronica also stated that payment for FPP must be made at any payment counter designated by the hospital, and that an official payment receipt will be issued once all payments have been made.

“The Sarawak State Health Department assures that further investigations would be conducted to determine whether there is indeed staff misconduct and to identify areas where action should be taken to improve the hospital’s service quality.

“JKNS would also like to remind the public to get information and hospital services through the right channels,” she said.

Dr Veronica further remarked that the Malaysian Ministry of Health (KKM) is aware of and takes seriously the issue that has gone viral on social media regarding the services provided by SHC. — DayakDaily