Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad has responded to claims that the National Heart Institute (IJN) was discharging civil servants and pensioners due to government cost-cutting measures.

In a letter published on CodeBlue, an unnamed pensioner claimed that he was discharged after receiving extensive care at IJN and told that the ministry issued a directive that all civil servants and pensioners should be discharged to the Health Ministry cardiac centre nearest to their homes.

"This is not the first and last time I have responded to this recurring issue. IJN and the Health Ministry already have a...