More than 20,00 leaflets protesting the privatisation of healthcare were distributed to the public at nine government hospitals nationwide today.

The leaflets read 'Do not jeopardise government hospitals'.

When contacted, Coalition Against Healthcare Privatisation secretary Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj said their representatives handed out the leaflets in Kedah, Penang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

In the four-page leaflet, the coalition - comprising 80 civil society and consumer groups - urged the public to object the proposal to allow specialists at public hospitals to see private patients after office hours.

The coalition also urged those who received the leaflets to make 20 copies each and distribute them to friends, neighbours and families.

"You can also hold discussions with your respective parliamentarians and state assembly persons to let them know your concerns about the scheme," said Jeyakumar.

The public should also register their complaint in writing to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek, he added.

Neglecting poor patients

Health Ministry director-general Dr Ismail Merican was reported as saying that the policy will start next month on a trial basis in the Selayang and Putrajaya hospitals.

The scheme will be implemented in all government hospitals based on the outcome of the trial.

Ismail was quoted as saying that the purpose of the scheme is to augment the income of government specialists and to keep them in the government service.

Meanwhile, DAP NGO bureau chief Ronnie Liu expressed disappointment that Ismail had announced his plans to implement a major decision without consultation.

"The coalition has been against the institution of 'limited private practice' in government hospitals because that will inevitably lead to the deterioration in the care of the non-paying patients," he said in a statement.

He said government specialists are overworked because apart from teaching, they also have to organise quality control and system-review exercises.

"They are already overworked and often not able to supervise the young doctors under them closely enough. Allowing private practice after office hours cannot but lead to the greater neglect of the patients in the third class wards," he added.

He said DAP concurs with the coalition that the government should retain more doctors in service by offering better remuneration.

"We appreciate that government doctors work hard, and in difficult conditions - we want them to be paid better," he added.

Liu was among those who distributed the leaflets at the Klang hospital.