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Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on the system of computerization in all government hospitals in Malaysia. 15.11.2000

All public and private hospitals in Malaysia are gradually being computerized to keep up with the time. Some are more computerized than the others. For example, Selayang Hospital or Putrajaya Hospital (272 beds) is a new computerized hospital or paperless hospital. The more paperless it is, the more paper may be used.

The Health Ministry has earmarked another six hospitals for the computerized system, namely Pandan Hospital, Johor (704 beds), Ampang Hospital, Selangor (562 beds), Alor Star Hospital, Kedah (660 beds), Sungai Buloh Hospital,Selangor (620 beds), Serdang Hospital, Selangor (620 beds) and Sungai Petani Hospital, Kedah (498 beds).

The Malaysian Government intends to raise fully the system of information and communication technology, ICT, in the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Other hospitals will have ICT according to their size and need. Apparently, with the total hospital information system, patients receive friendlier, more efficient, faster and more orderly treatment.

True, some countries are better and others are worse than Malaysia in health service. If we observe the health care in pubic hospitals, we can see that there are rooms for improvement. The long queues and the attitude of some health workers make people sick. The Selayang Hospital may show some good signs such as faster treatment. However, it still lacks the human touch. Maybe, the computers make it less human.

After privatizing the government store providing drugs and equipment for government clinics and hospitals, the Government says that it would not privatize hospitals anymore. Nevertheless, there are still various forms of privatization and the criteria for appointing companies are open to doubt. For instance, we don't know how and why Diligent Network has been awarded the computerization system with the value of RM 1 billion. The public must know the details of the computerization system.

The Government should be more open, transparent and accountable. There should not be irregularities. Whatever it claims, irregularities occur. The Economic Planing Unit, EPU, in the Prime Minister's Department works out the details of each privatization project. But then, each project tends to be affected by party political factor.

The cost of health goes up. The people pay more. In fact, we pay over 90% of the cost of public health. The 2001 budget gives RM 5.765 billion for health. But, if irregularities such as nepotism or corruption exist, the cost goes up further. What is the actual cost of the computerization system? How would it be maintained effectively? Is it really RM 1 billion?