Bill on aged healthcare services tabled

THE Private Aged Healthcare Facilities and Services Bill 2017 was tabled in Dewan Rakyat for its first reading yesterday.

It was tabled by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam and was expected to be passed this meeting, which ends on Nov 30.

If passed, centres caring for four or more persons above 60 years old must obtain an operating licence from the ministry’s director-general.

The centre’s premises and type of services offered will be among the matters considered for approval.

An operating licence is valid for three years from the date of approv- al and cannot be assigned or transferred unless approved by the director-general.

The operators must also ensure that their staff are trained in basic life support.

The proposed law also prescribed that such centres or facilities must provide policy statement to a care recipient upon admission.

This includes providing a grievance mechanism to allow a care recipient, his relative or any person acting on their behalf to lodge a complaint.

The centres for the aged would be subject to inspection by two officers appointed by the director-general to ensure compliance of regulations.

The ministry’s director-general has the power to suspend or revoke the licence of a centre or order its closure.

A centre operator may voluntarily close the centre but must give three months’ notice to the ministry’s director-general, along with a report on the status of accommodation of care recipients.

The centre can also receive care recipients below 60 years old if it complies with the Care Centres Act 1993.

A failure to comply with the law could see offenders being fined between RM5,000 and RM30,000.