Private hospitals were reminded today that they must provide immediate emergency treatment to patients without waiting for deposit payment.

Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek said they should also communicate with the patients and their relatives during the emergency treatment.

"These aspects will be stressed in the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act) (1998) (PHFA) which will be enforced from May 1," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Chua said this while answering a question from Huan Chen Guan (BN-Batu Kawan) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Huan asked what actions will the government take on private hospitals which refused to treat emergency-case patients who could not pay deposits before treatment.

Answering another question on hospital fees, the minister said the payment to private hospitals came under the "schedule fees" agreed to by the Malaysian Medical Hospital (MMA).

'Schedule fees'

Chua said the disparity in hospital fees between hospitals would be resolved when the new Act was enforced which would empower the Health Ministry's director-general and the minister to alter the "schedule fees" if they were unrealistic.

The minister will also be empowered to decide on the nature of social contribution by the private hospitals.

"For instance, they should provide emergency treatment to poor students and discounts or exemptions to patients who cannot afford to pay," he said.

In an unrelated development, Bernama reported that a total of 11,974 youths called up for national service training in 2004 and last year but failed to attend can join the third batch of trainees for this year from June 25 until Sept 26.

National Service Training Council chairperson Lee Lam Thye said this would be their final chance before legal action was taken against them.

Of the number, 4,610 refused to attend the training while 7,364 did not receive their call-up letters, he added.