KUALA LUMPUR: The findings of the independent special task force on the death of a specialist doctor in Hospital Lahad Datu will be made after the probe is completed or the outcome could be released earlier than the three-month deadline given, says Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
The Health Minister said although the panel was set up in early October, it officially began its probe on Nov 1.
“They have been given three months to complete their probe before submitting it to the ministry. However, we may not need to wait till the end of January.
“If the task force completes their probe earlier, we will hold a press conference to disclose their findings. We are transparent and have nothing to hide,” he said at a press conference after launching the International Medical Device Exhibition and Conference 2024 here yesterday.
He said the Cabinet would also be briefed on the findings of the task force headed by former Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Borhan Dollah.On Aug 29, Dr Tay Tien Yaa, a pathologist at Hospital Lahad Datu, was found dead following allegations of workplace bullying.
She was the head of the hospital’s Chemical Pathology Unit and lived alone in her rented accommodation.
Her family was said to have discovered evidence in her WhatsApp conversations of her workload and how she was treated.Apart from investigating the circumstances of Dr Tay’s death, the task force is responsible for confirming whether bullying exists at the hospital, specifically in the Pathology Department.
Separately, Dzulkefly said his ministry is open to the proposal for the setting up of a joint task force to probe into the increasing medical insurance premiums.
Although such a task force has yet to be formed, the Health Minister said discussions on the matter started several months ago.“Looking forward to addressing the issue in a more complete and comprehensive manner, setting up such a task force should not be a problem,” he added.
Dr Dzulkefly was responding to calls by backbencher Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin and several others, calling for the setting up of a joint task force to investigate if increasing medical insurance premiums are linked to the rising cost of private healthcare.
On a review of the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998 (Act 586), Dzulkefly said it would focus on Schedule 13 of the Act with regard to professional fees in relation to payment and reimbursement involving private healthcare providers.
He said the review would look into practices adopted in the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan with regard to the Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRGs) model.
DRG is a payment system that involves paying an amount that is predetermined by the DRG, instead of paying for each service received.
“With the DRG, Malaysians will be able to make comparisons on the cost of medical treatment and procedures,” he added.
