I refer to the letter Private healthcare provides options by Doctor.

I would like to share my story with Doctor. I was hit by a car and the driver sent me to the nearest hospital which was a private hospital. I was told I needed surgery as my right leg was injured. As I was in a lot of pain and very frightened, I agreed to the surgery. After the surgery, the doctor came to see me and when I tried to ask him more about the condition of my leg, he said he was in a hurry and I did not have the chance to ask him.

Every time he came to see me, it was just to ask me if I 'was alright'. When I wanted to ask him more, he seemed not happy about it and I did not feel like asking him more. I felt so frightened not knowing how my leg's condition was.

When I was discharged, I was shocked to see that I was charged RM80 every time the doctor came to see me in my room. This on top of the surgery fees. I felt very cheated. What had the doctor done that he charged RM80 every time he came in? As the accident was my fault, I had to pay the hospital with all my savings since I do not have health insurance.

If you send your car to the workshop because it is giving you problems and after being repaired, it is still not alright, you send the car back to the workshop. You will not be happy if the mechanic charges you extra just to look at your car again. So why must doctors charge extra when they come to check if their surgeries are alright?

I agree with Dr Teh Yik Koon's letter and I am glad he spoke out what many people feel. Many people feel private hospitals and private doctors are charging too much. People do not speak out because they are afraid to speak out. Even Doctor does not use his own name in his letter.

Also, Doctor's patient must have some money. If not, he would not go to the private hospital. Why does Doctor say that general hospitals are slower and not so efficient? It is because many doctors join the private hospitals and not the general hospitals where the pay is not so much and the work a lot more?

Why does Doctor need to compare fees of private healthcare operators in Malaysia with those of other countries? Our standard of living is different. In our country, I think private healthcare fees are very expensive and I'm sure many Malaysians will agree with me.