KUALA LUMPUR: The authorities will soon clarify matters in regard to a letter published in a health news portal that the National Heart Institute (IJN) was discharging all civil servants and pensioners due to the government's cost-cutting measures.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan, when contacted kept mum, stating that the Health Ministry will shed light on the matter soon.
"The ministry, (or) Health Minister (Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad) will respond soon. It won't be long, insyaAllah," he briefly told the New Straits Times.
This follows a letter published by the portal in which an unnamed government pensioner claimed he was discharged after receiving extensive care at IJN.
The pensioner, whose name was not disclosed for certain reasons, said he had been told by IJN doctors that the ministry had issued a directive that all civil servants and pensioners should be discharged to the MoH cardiac centre nearest to their homes.
"I protested that my problem was highly complicated; the senior IJN cardiologist agreed with me. But I was told that their hands were tied as the government was cutting costs.
"I also found out that my predicament is shared by numerous other pensioners and civil servants all over the country, these past months
"So, with a sinking heart, I returned home and arranged to see the doctors at the MOH cardiac centre near my home. This was not easy as I had to make an appointment and the clinic was busy," he said.
He said after over two months, the pensioner managed to see a doctor with concerns that he could run out of medication soon.
Alarms were also raised when the cardiac centre the pensioner went to stated that they did not have the expertise to handle the pensioner's case and the limited number of drugs.
"The MOH cardiologist then said he would write a new referral for me to go back to IJN, and that I would have to make an appointment with IJN as a new patient and hopefully get back the same senior cardiologist.
"This would be another hassle and possibly two to three months of waiting, or longer."
The pensioner expressed his disappointment as a former civil servant who served for 35 years after going through such a predicament.
Meanwhile, an IJN spokesman, when contacted, referred the NST to a statement the institute issued in September last year saying that the Public Service Department requires a referral from the government, private hospitals or clinics for treatments at IJN.
After 12 months of treatment, procedure or surgery, the September statement said, patients are expected to be discharged back to the referring hospital.
"This is done when the patient requires continuous follow-up treatment and management.
"IJN strictly adheres to this guideline regulated by the Ministry of Health. IJN remains committed to providing excellent healthcare to government employees and retirees," it said.