pre-Election Show.5 [ IJN Privatization ] MIC only weak up After Show ~ Malaysiakini

21th December Malaysiaparty 's [SPot] Special Report
(picked from themalaysianinsider.com) :
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/14556-dont-pass-social-responsibility-to-private-sector-says-palanivel

Don’t pass social responsibility to private sector, says Palanivel

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — Since medical care for serious diseases are not affordable even for the middle income group, the government should not hand over the National Heart Institute (IJN) to the private sector, said MIC Deputy President Datuk G. Palanivel.

malaysiakini to post this ==>
“Health care is a service and must be more than a business. We should continue to implement justice in health care,” said the former Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister in a statement here today.

Palanivel, in welcoming Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s move to defer the matter said the government should look at its principle of governance carefully and should not hand over its social responsibility to the private sector.

“I had been handling welfare work related to poor in the same ministry for more than eight years and was well aware of their plight and the difficulties they faced in obtaining financial assistance when they are diagnosed with serious diseases,” he said.

He said from April 2004 to January 2008, the ministry’s service centre had handled many problems and had obtained exemption for 133 cases totalling a sum of RM2,164,713.30.

“We referred the cases to the IJN Medical Welfare Officers who will perform the assessment and give exemptions on the spot. IJN officers sat as volunteers at my service centre. I am not certain whether the same level of cooperation would prevail if IJN was privatised,” he added.

Palanivel said the government should have the political will and social understanding and provide cost effective health care to the necessary cross-section of the Malaysian society.

“This can be done if the government studies the core strengths of the present health care systems and industry, both in the public and private sectors,” said Palanivel.
(above picked from http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/14556-dont-pass-social-responsibility-to-private-sector-says-palanivel)