The Health Ministry has explained that has taken steps to address former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s health condition and stressed that it prioritises the healthcare of all regardless of religion, race as well as political affiliations.

This comes after the family of imprisoned Anwar Ibrahim said that it will file a complaint against Health Ministry deputy director-general Dr Jeyaindran Sinnadurai if the PKR de facto leader was not allowed the necessary treatment for his shoulder injury.

Jeyaindran is Hospital Kuala Lumpur's (HKL) senior consultant physician and he also heads the panel of experts looking into Anwar's shoulder injury.

The matter of his shoulder injury is being looked into by a panel of experts comprising a senior consultant physician, a senior consultant orthopaedic surgeon, and four orthopaedic consultants in arthroscopy and sports surgery from both the public and private medical sectors.

Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement last night said following the meeting between him and Anwar's family and his lawyers on Sept 10, an orthopaedic consultant in arthroscopy and sports surgery and a physiotherapist from HKL were sent to the Sungai Buloh Prison the next day.

"Another physical assessment was done and explanation given regarding available treatment options. His physiotherapy regime has also been reviewed," he said.

Noor Hisham added that the panel of experts had agreed to allow an orthopaedic consultant from University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) identified by Anwar's family to give a second opinion in the medical treatment of his condition.

Nurul: Urgent surgery needed

The Health Ministry director-general also confirmed that another meeting was held with Anwar's family members last Monday.

The meeting involved the orthopaedic consultant who examined Anwar on Sept 11, the director of HKL and the senior consultant physician heading the panel of experts.

"During the discussion, questions and concerns were addressed regarding the clinical findings, the advantages, disadvantages and risks of available treatment options and post-operative recovery if surgery is chosen to be the next course of action.

"A collective final decision has yet to be made by the patient and family members pending an assessment by the orthopaedic consultant from UMMC," said Noor Hisham.

Anwar's daughter, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar last week said during the family's visit to Sungai Buloh Prison on Sept 14, that they were informed by Anwar that urgent surgery was needed since the pain he felt in one shoulder in March, had spread to both shoulders.

"This cannot be treated with daily physiotherapy and analgesics as recommended by Dr Jeyaindran since the facilities are not available in prison," she had said.

Noor Hisham however pointed out that the injury sustained was two years ago prior to Anwar's imprisonment.

"In view of the nature of the old shoulder injury, the appropriate clinical management at that point of time that was prescribed were analgesics and physiotherapy," he said.