Illegals with healthcare subsidy

'Locals' pay as foreigners at Sandakan Hospital

Published on: Thursday, February 26, 2015  http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=97381

Sandakan: The Duchess of Kent Hospital (HDOK) in Sandakan has clarified, amidst a growing number of complaints in the media, that it has to strictly implement the Fees Act (Medical) for Foreigners 1951 (2014 amendment).
In the absence of proper documents, those claiming to be "locals" will be charged at the higher rate for foreigners under the Act. HDOK director Dr. Francis Paul explained that the hospital staff will have to do their job according to the law.
"This is not a rule or regulation, but the law that we are talking about," he said. "The amendment to the Fees Act (medical) for Foreigners 1951 was implemented beginning this year and it is stated clearly that only locals with full self-identification would be charged the Malaysian rate." Hospital staff do not have the authorisation to determine whether or not one is a Malaysian without proper documents, he added.
"It is not fair for us to be asked to decide if the patient is a local if he or she does not provide proper self-identification documents. We only require the IC (MyKad) for adults and the birth certificate for children."
Francis, continuing, said the hospital had explained to the public affected, especially parents, that applying for self-identification documents and having it in their possession is their responsibility.
"They cannot blame the hospital for adhering to the law when it is their responsibility to have proper self-identification documents with them."
Francis said exceptions could be given based on the seriousness of the patient's health condition if the necessary documents are not produced to apply for the local rate for fees. "I am the only one who is authorized to decide whether or not one should be getting treatment before making payment as I will also be the one to answer when we are audited," he said.
The hospital staff, stressed Francis, have been directed to be strict on nationality given numerous cases where foreigners had used the identification documents of locals to get treatment at the Malaysian rate.
Children aged 12 years old and below will only enjoy the lower local rate i.e. a token RM1 per outpatient treatment if they have MyKid or birth certificates. Those above 12 years old have to present their MyKad (IC) at the registration counter before the doctor attends to them.
Otherwise, in the absence of such documentation, even those who claim to be "locals" will have to pay the higher rate charged foreigners under the Act. "Locals" who registered for birth certificates later than 14 days after birth, and those who have not applied for MyKad after 12 years old, are charged the non-Malaysian rate.
Apparently, it's not good enough to present official letters even from the court that their self-identification documents are still being processed by the National Registration Department (NRD).
Foreigners, under the amended Act effective January this year, have to pay RM68 per treatment, up from the previous RM50. Effective 2018, there would no longer be subsidies for foreigners, and they would have to fork out the full RM 100 per outpatient treatment. This excludes specialist consultation or hospitalization.
Illegal immigrants and other foreigners in Sabah have been enjoying healthcare subsidy since 1951.