I refer to the Malaysiakini article Class divisions in access to healthcare and the letter Precious jewels in healthcare need protection .

This issue of class discrimination in the provision of healthcare and the subsequently poor healthcare received by the financially less well-off is a trend that also exists in Malaysia. The US has remedied its problem through the passing of the new legislation in the US Congress.

I must congratulate President Obama for showing care for his people by ensuring that all Americans will now receive equal medical attention. The healthcare reforms in the US will put both rich and poor Americans on par when it comes to issues of healthcare.

There was concern that the US was going to adopt a discriminatory system of healthcare, meaning first-class healthcare for the rich and a third-class healthcare for the poor. However, these new reforms mean that there will only be one system of healthcare for all.

Thus, there is now a need for healthcare reform in Malaysia. In Malaysia we have a ‘class division’ of healthcare. If you are poor, you go to a public hospital and you have to wait for hours and you very rarely get to see the specialist. By comparison, in private hospitals, you are placed under the care of a specialist almost immediately.

Let me illustrate by example two medical cases. One patient was treated in a public hospital and the other in a private hospital. The patient who was treated in a public hospital was me and the person treated in a private hospital was my well-to-do relative. Five years ago, I developed headache and vomiting.

I went to the Hospital Universiti (a public hospital). I vomited several times in the hospital but was never referred to a neurologist. I was just given medication and sent home. A few days later I could not move my left hand and I collapsed.

I was rushed by my family to a public hospital and was admitted. I was finally admitted when I should have been admitted several days earlier. However, I am alive thankfully because of my family's fast response.

In comparison, my relative who complained of headaches and vomiting, went to a private hospital. He was immediately admitted. He had a brain scan done (MRI) and a heart exam (ECG) and blood tests (glucose levels etc) and was treated by a neurologist and a cardiologist.

Basically, in Malaysia, the medical treatment you receive depends on your financial status in life. Just look at the medical treatment the Orang Asli community get because they are poor people.

It is time that Malaysia undertakes the same healthcare reforms that the US has. Everyone should get the same level of healthcare no matter what his or her status in life is.