Call to build special unit for veterans at govt hospitals

KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry is urged to build a special medical unit for military veterans in government hospitals available throughout the country to enable veterans to have better medical services.

National Patriot Association president Brig Gen (R) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji said, with the facility, veterans did not have to travel far to go to hospital because government hospitals were in every state.

Commenting on media reports that the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) would build a hospital in Ipoh, Perak dedicated to veterans at a cost of RM500 million, he said veterans welcomed the construction of the hospital, but the ministry needed to think about providing better services to veterans.

“Veterans are located all over the country, and those in the lower ranks especially will have problems travelling long distances to get treatment due to the age factor, and some are physically handicapped.

“It is not wise for a veteran residing in Johor, for example, to travel to Ipoh for medical treatment. Similarly, it is more absurd for veterans from Sabah and Sarawak to go to Ipoh for medical treatment,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Mohamed Arshad said the establishment of a special medical unit for veterans in government hospitals would allow limited medical resources to be shared between government hospitals and the medical units.