KUCHING: Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia hopes that Khairy Jamaluddin will be able to retain a parliamentary seat and continue as Health Minister in the next term after the 15th General Election (GE15).
Its President Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said the Rembau member of parliament (MP) contribution to the country’s healthcare has been significant particularly during the pandemic and currently in the proposed Healthcare White Paper.
“Khairy’s efforts have augmented the foundation that was built by the previous ministers but his courage to enhance partnership with private healthcare stakeholders is very commendable.
“The processes of getting a robust healthcare for the country will require strong synergy with the guidance of the Minister of Health and the able team lead by the Director General of Health and Secretary General of Health,” he said in a statement today.
Dr Kuljit said the partnership with private hospitals would have the details on how the delivering of healthcare could be made possible to every citizen with the best mechanism of reimbursement and creating sufficient accessibility for early treatment without any disruption to any of the existing public and private healthcare structures.
It was recently reported that Khairy has been told to make way for Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan in Rembau, who had earlier hinted that he wanted to contest at a parliamentary constituency in the GE15.
As an Umno party man, Khairy said he had no objections and would adhere to the orders from the party’s top leadership with Mohamad being Rembau Umno division chief. He would not switch parties too.
Meanwhile, Dr Kuljit also said the association has nominated five experienced members representing different private hospital conglomerates to assist the advisory council of the Healthcare White Paper.
The association, he said, was in full support of the advisory council and the five members would be able to strengthen the partnership of private hospitals with the government healthcare providers.
“We are in the opinion that the current system of public and private healthcare is sustainable provided further collaborative efforts can be undertaken but with precise advice and knowledge from the ground particularly from the private hospital operators,” he added.
The nominated names from different private hospitals have been sent to Khairy in a letter and the nominees are KPJ Healthcare Bhd Group Covering Chief Operating Officer, (COO) Datuk Mohamad Farid Salim, IHH Healthcare Malaysia Group COO & Gleneagles Hospital Penang Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ivan Loh Ee Hoe, Columbia Asia Group Managing Director & CEO Dr Chan Boon Kheng and Subang Jaya Medical Centre CEO Bryan Lin Boon Diann and Sunway Healthcare Group Director Finance Chelsea Cheng Chuan Shing.
All of them have over 20 years of individual experience in private hospital management and each of these private hospital groups have been in existence between 40 to 50 years.
The President and Secretary of the association would represent the other smaller hospital groups and stand-alone private hospitals till further notice.
