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I WRITE in the perspective of someone who has lost his brother to illness and the health care system of this country.My brother just passed away in Hospital Tawau recently.

The saddest thing was not merely his bereavement, but the system of health care in our nation!

For poor and helpless people like us, the system is against our nature in getting treatment.

On the other hand, it is fully designed to suit our nature of being obedient and ever forgiving.

In fact, quickly after his funeral, the guilt of not fighting enough for his rights to treatment soon settled as the "tidak apa" or "never mind" attitude. Inevitably among many of us, a trouble less is a trouble gone and let's forgive and forget.

Then again, I strongly believe this is not just an isolated incident.

I am sure many cases like this passed through the mortuary in tens or hundreds throughout hospitals in Malaysia. My brother was just one in many! Helpless Rakyat, especially the old and the less educated, need treatment. Life is precious and nobody can say they are any less precious than the rich, educated or the powerful. As Minister of Health, you are entrusted with this noble course of helping the sick and to alleviate their suffering. I really hope that you could look into this matter seriously.

I was told that my brother required medication which was not available in the government list, something called the "Blue Book".

We were informed that this medication required authorisation from the Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan (KPK) before it could be used in the Hospital.

So, what the fuss? We had it put forward for KPK application!

That being done, we expected good news. However, we waited and waited, the approval never came! Our very caring doctor (no name mentioned here as I don't want him to get into trouble) checked with the pharmacy and many times, and we have also gone to see the hospital administration, but all effort ended nowhere. Anxiety and anticipation, stress and more stress, the approval did not come by.

We soon realised it would never come.

There was never any reason given. Six months later from the point of application, my brother passed away. So, there is now no need of any approval anymore!

Is this "KPK Application" a new procedure, or just something for show?

How can serious illnesses wait for six months or more?

Two weeks is probably acceptable, but six months and beyond that, without any reason or reply?

What has happened to the health care system of this country? Isn't it sickening to admit: "Hello! Wake Up!

Go to private hospital! Government hospital can never take care of you!"

What about people like us who do not have the means and money to go for private hospital treatment?

Then from other patients we knew of, someone apparently connected to a "Yang Berhormat" got the KPK approved pretty quickly! Bravo!

What an efficient government if you are well-connected.

It is a fact that those with connections and well informed are likely the rich and powerful!

The system is to process KPK efficiently for them.

Smart fellows would realise that taking good care of them will yield praise and electoral votes!

The poor and uneducated probably do not know their rights!

Sadly, but truly, they are stupid, ignorant and na•ve.

This bunch of slow, helpless Kampong folks are easily deceived, and yet, like mentioned earlier, easily forgive and forget!

After having asked around people in the hospital, I come to shocking revelation! KPK was commonly approved in the previous time by the previous Director of Health. Only recently was the stringent steps imposed on the KPK applications! I heard that the previous Director of Health (Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan) Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr Ismail Merican, who was popularly known as the "SARS Doctor," applications in a matter of "days" or even "hours"! In those days, it was never "months"!

Why a sudden change of policy now?

Why cannot the KPK application be approved like before!

To a layman like me, I could not see the rationale of delaying and not approving KPK application.

Over and above, it was being done without giving a reason! Yet, the Barisan Nasional Government under the slogan of 'Klinik 1 Malaysia' highly publicised community health care of this nation.

Ostensibly, this is for the community health care of the poor and the helpless kampong folks!

The case of my brother was really a live contrast of what your administration could best be doing!

A sensible person would just follow the tested method.

If is was done within days or weeks, there should be better system of approving the KPK in shorter time.

Conversely, if it should not be approved, provide reasons of rejecting the application so that the next best action could be taken. It cannot be inaction for six months until the person needing the medicine dies!

Don't tell me that the new Ketua Pengarah is so hardworking that a decision like this requires him or her going back to medical school or postgraduate centre to come out with the approval!

It cannot be only one person in the Kementerian to evaluate the application and make decision on hundreds and thousands of lives!

Who does he thinks he is?

Key positions like Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan, with power next to "Almighty GOD", should be watched and appraised to avoid the "Old Broom" phenomenon.

I truly view this issue affecting the public.

As this matter requires the attention of all the people who are awaiting KPK Approval, I seek your agreement to forward such revelation to the public.