Boost to medical tourism
THE Penang Government is setting up a hospital consultative council for all private hospitals in the state in a move to boost medical tourism.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the council would play a role to improve hospital services including the pricing aspect.
“We want to make sure our market share for medical tourism is not overtaken by other states,” he said during a dialogue session with some 50 DAP members and professionals at Komtar yesterday.
Lim was responding to questions pertaining to Penang’s status as a medical tourism state for other countries besides Indonesia.
In a related matter, he said DAP was also advocating the setting up of a medical tribunal by the Health Ministry and other relevant Federal Government agencies.
Face to face: Lim fielding questions during a dialogue with DAP members and professionals at Komtar yesterday. (The Star)
“It is always more expensive for an individual to sue the hospital for medical negligence. With a medical tribunal, the process can be easier, cheaper and convenient,” Lim replied when a lecturer, who claimed that he was prescribed wrong medication for a leg injury which caused him to lose his hair, asked for Lim’s opinion.
On another matter, Lim said the state was trying to consolidate the volume of studies done over the years to come out with a state public transport master-plan.
“We will also be including new ideas to improve the traffic and transportation in Penang.”
Replying to comments by the dialogue participants that the state should not play the race game or over emphasise development and economy, Lim said: “Let me know if any of our assemblymen are being arrogant and we will ensure that action is taken against them.
“We always believe in the theory of unite and rule instead of divide and rule.
“Our cost benefit analysis is not merely touching on economy but also other aspects like the environment, women and children.
“Many a times, certain media paint a bad picture of us and do not publish what we’ve explained,’’ he said.
The Star - Saturday November 28, 2009 by ANN TAN
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/11/28/north/5199546&sec=North
Daftarlah Sebagai Rakan DAP! 
http://greenstate.penang.gov.my
