I refer to “Fast aid” (Star,October 5).
Over the last few days we witnessed with much excitement the dramatic developments in the medical arena. Mechanical heart girl Tan Hui Yi received a new lease of life from 2 generous heart donors. She had to undergo two heart transplant operations within just a few days.
Heart girl,Tan Hui Yi
Malaysians of all walks of life, watched with pride as our doctors and every member of the medical and supporting teams racing against time to carry out the heart and lung transplants. Not only doctors and nurses but ambulance drivers, police-outriders and personnel from TUDM all worked in perfect unison to effectively execute the medical mission with great efficiency and precision.
It was even more touching to see parents, despite being inflicted with grief, unselfishly coming forward, to donation the hearts of their brain dead children to this unfortunate little girl. I was particularly moved by the following words of the father of one of the donors;
“Although I have lost a son, I now feel like I have a foster daughter. My son was God’s gift to me. Now, it is time to return the gift to God.”
Their generosity transcends all racial and religious barriers. Their willingness to help a fellow human unconditionally should be an example for all of us.
In relation to emergency medical care, it was gratifying that the government had launched the special fund,D’tik (Dana Talian Insan Kritikal ),which is aimed at providing cash assistance for medical treatment in dire emergencies. Though the initial sum of RM5mil allocated by the National Welfare Foundation may be small but definitely it is worthy of praise as it is a start in the right direction.
It is important that Yayasan Kebajikan Negara ensure that these funds are made available within the first 24 to 72 hours of admission so that treatment to save lives or salvage function can proceed immediately without any hitch. It is also important to include all government hospitals in this scheme so that everyone can benefit from it.
A system should also be worked out to cover private hospital where such patients may end up in such dire emergencies without their choice. It should be “treatment first, payment later” form of arrangement where treatment should proceed without any delay caused by administrative hitches.
This facility for emergency treatment should be implemented fairly for all, regardless of social standing of the patient. Very often the poor in society are not able to obtain the various financial assistances available to them due to ignorance of the protocol. This scheme which deals with life and death emergencies, should be poor-friendly and this group of patients must be particularly helped so that they are not denied such aid to save their lives.
Like all schemes that hand out money, this too that is subject to abuse by those in administering the fund. Every effort should make to ensure that adequate regulations are in place to check abuse and that they are enforced effectively at all times. It is particularly important to ensure these funds, meant for emergency medical treatment, truly reach the intended target – those in dire need.
Dr.Chris Anthony
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