The Health Ministry has denied allegations that it neglected the welfare of patients and staff of Mawar Medical Centre and only focused on the legal aspects following the closure of the premises on Feb 14.

In a statement today, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said the licensing issue faced by the Mawar Medical Centre was due to internal problems that led to the mass resignation of all specialist doctors who served on the premises.

“The chairperson of Mawar Medical Centre/Mawar Haemodialysis Centre, Chua Lay Ping, sent an official letter to my office on Feb 11, 2019,” he said.

In the letter, Dzulkefly said, the chairperson stated that due to lack of income, the February 2019 payroll could not be issued, and that the absence of staff would result in dialysis patients being unable to receive proper treatment. 

As such, the premises requested the ministry to transfer all patients to other haemodialysis centres immediately.

“The premises has also posted a notice to inform that dialysis treatment will only be available until Feb 14, 2019, and patients would be required to make their own arrangements for further treatment,” he said.

Dzulkefly said the ministry had no other choice and was forced to act fast in the best interests of the patients.

- Bernama