The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) today decried the government's move to set up 'commercial private wings' in public-funded hospitals, warning that the move would end up shortchanging other patients who use subsidised services.

Its president SM Mohamed Idris pointed out that privatising hospital wings would not solve the manpower shortage in public hospitals - there are currently about 3,000 vacancies for doctors.

"As a result of this shortage, medical officers are very much overworked. How is this to be addressed with the commencement of the commercial private wings?" he said in a statement,

"How are hospitals going to deploy staff to the commercial private wings and still cope with the ever increasing number of patients?"

Mohamed also asked how general hospitals - which have a shortage of first class wards - would accommodate additional patients.

He said the move raised concerns that poor patients could be deprived of treatment, if beds are converted for more profitable use in the private wings.

"CAP regrets that the Health Ministry is going ahead with its plan...in spite of various concerns raised by CAP and other parties. So far, these concerns have not been addressed," he added.

Higher fees?

Mohamed pointed out that corruption may also become an issue once a two-tier system is implemented in public-funded hospitals.

"Corrupt doctors could see patients in the commercial private wings but admit them to the public side for procedures. He could then pocket fees illegally by offering a concession to the patient. This practice is rampant in places like India and Egypt where there is a public-private mix," he said.

He also noted that once public hospitals adopt private wings, it would likely adopt private sector practices of charging high, marked up prices for services.

"If the aim is to increase remuneration for medical staff, then there are a number of means whereby additional income for the government could be generated," he said.

"CAP calls on the ministry not to go ahead with the plan to start private wings in public hospitals. All the concerns that have been raised should be addressed."