Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek blamed the lack of continuity in the Malaysian Medical Association's (MMA) leadership which has resulted in repeated allegations that the body was not consulted over the controversial National Health Financing Scheme.

The ministry has had numerous discussions with MMA over the scheme and this was clearly reflected in the minutes of the meeting, claimed Chua at a press conference after officially opening the Masterskill Nursing College in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said this when asked if there would be broad-based consultation over the scheme, scheduled for implementation in 2007.

"Every time a new MMA president comes in, he would make a statement like that (that there is no consultation). They want to look good (by showing MMA members) that they are doing some work. That's why they have to come out with such a statement," said Chua.

"We consult the association, not the individual [...] they want to show that they are in authority and have leadership, much like politics," he added in jest.

The minister added that consumer groups have been regularly consulted over the scheme, while the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca) and MMA were members of the committee overseeing the implementation of the scheme.

Chua reiterated that public servants, pensioners, the unemployed, the disabled, senior citizens and anyone who could afford the scheme, would be exempted.

"Who are the people that can afford to pay, that is the question which needs to be studied in detail. I cannot give out any figure because the consultants have not completed their studies," Chua said.

The lack of details surrounding the scheme which have been in planning for two decades, have irked many opponents to it.

Inadequate nurses

Meanwhile, Chua urged would-be doctors to consider nursing as an alternative considering the nation's shortage of nurses and the perks that come with the job.

"In terms of remuneration, for nurses it's not bad [...] not everyone should just aim to be doctors. Trainee nurses are paid RM600 in allowances monthly. Upon graduation, they will be paid RM1,630 (salary plus allowances)," he said.

He said the government has also approved a proposal to allow nurses with degrees to move to a different pay scheme, which the minister believes is an added incentive for those wanting to join the profession.

According to Chua, the present shortfall in nurses and other allied health personnel stands at 129,634 and that the country needs to train 12,200 such personnel annually to meet the projected demands at the year 2020.

Earlier, in his opening address, Chua revealed that the present nurse to population ratio was 1:635 as opposed to the recommended ratio of 1:200. The figure is 1 to 102 in the US while in Singapore it is 1:203.