Reopen MHC so patients don’t have to travel far, urges MCA

SEREMBAN: Following the death of two renal patients, MCA is calling for the Health Ministry to reopen the non-profit Mawar Haemodialysis Centre (MHC) here as many others were forced to travel far away to seek treatment.

State party chief Siow Koi Voon said there was a pressing need for this after two patients died within a fortnight due to a combination of factors.

Siow said both victims had been getting treatment at the MHC before it was ordered to close and they were transferred to other facilities.

He said as a result, some of these patients finished their treatment sessions at 1am.

“We received many complaints from these patients about having to travel to far away places like Jelebu, Tampin and Kajang, which could cause their condition to worsen.

“Some even completed their treatments in the wee hours of the morning and this is unacceptable,” he told reporters after handing over a memorandum to Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun yesterday.

Siow said although the ministry has taken the initiative to place these patients at other facilities following the closure of MHC, the dis- tance was a major setback.

“We are very disappointed with the ministry and the state government as they have failed to look into the welfare of the patients.

“These patients have suffered enough and there is a need to find remedial solutions fast,” he said.

On Feb 14, the ministry ordered both the MHC and the Mawar Medical Centre to be closed after the management informed the authorities that it did not have the funds to pay its staff.

MHC has another 13 centres nationwide, providing dialysis treatment to some 800 patients.

The main centre in Seremban used to treat 274 patients.

MCA Civil Society Movement Coordination Bureau head Ng Kian Nam said since the MHC was well equipped, the ministry should reopen it for the benefit of the patients.

“This will save the patients and their families a lot of time and travelling costs,” he said.

“We cannot prolong the sufferings of these patients,” he said, adding that both the ministry and the state government should quickly decide on the future of the MHC.

They have suffered enough and there is a need to find remedial solutions fast.

Siow Koi Voon