Stop the lying doctor/s

Saw this story yesterday,

Hospital concessionaires ordered to conduct safety audits

and was particularly interested in this last paragraph,

The minister also denied that government hospitals do not have enough medicines and funds to conduct medical check-ups and treatment. He admitted that it was a problem but this has been resolved.

I became interested in that minister's denial because my friend in Kuantan told me earlier the same day that he went for a medical check-up at a government medical centre there and was told differently.

He had went for a medical check-up over an ailment and was given the diabetes, cholesterol and ECG (heart) tests.

The doctor however told my friend that he needed to undergo the thyroid test too but must do so at a private clinic or lab.

"We are on a budget and can't do it for you here," the doctor told my friend.

The doctor also told my friend that it's the same case at other government medical centers and hospitals all over the country.

'The supply of medicine is rather low because we don't have the money for it," said the doctor, adding that for instance, supply of insulin for diabetic patients is only available for a just two weeks stock at any time.

"After that, the patients need to get the supply on their own," the doctor said.

My friend ended up doing the thyroid test at a private lab outlet and was charged RM66.80 for it.

It's a good thing that my friend can afford it. Someone from the lower income group may find that quite burdensome.

That was not the first time I heard of such a story.

Some commentators in this blog have also wrote of the same thing at my earlier postings.

But since the minister had denied it, I really hope that all these were not true.

It's just not good if our hospitals are really running out of medicine and other stuff due to financial problem.

Now, I think the minister needs to tell the doctors to stop spreading such stories.

It makes the government looks bad.

Maybe those doctors were doing those story telling because they were pro-opposition and wanted the government to look bad.

If that's the case, disciplinary actions must be taken against them.

Politics should not have a place in hospitals.

Patients should not be made to suffer because of it.

Whatever it is, patients should be given the best treatment available.

The minister, who is also a doctor should know that.

 Again, hopefully it's true when he said all that were told to patients like my friend were not true.