KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 — Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) says coronary stents are not covered under the government guarantee letter (GL) scheme for civil servants at its hospital, as the devices are categorised as special medical instruments requiring separate financing.
In a statement responding to media queries by CodeBlue, UiTM assistant vice-chancellor (strategic communications) Prof Ismie Roha Mohamed Jais said diagnostic angiography procedures are covered under the GL scheme, but coronary stents are categorised as special medical devices not included under GL coverage for treatment at UiTM Hospital.
“For patients covered under the government GL, diagnostic angiogram procedures are covered under the scheme. However, if during the procedure it is found that the patient requires a coronary stent, the device is categorised as a special device that is not included under GL coverage for treatment at UiTM Hospital.
“Therefore, to ensure the smooth delivery of treatment should the use of a stent be required, patients or their next of kin will be informed in advance of the need to place a temporary deposit before the procedure is carried out,” Ismie said.
Ismie said the practice follows treatment guidelines in Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals involving special medical devices and existing medical financing regulations for civil servants.
She added that applications for financing such devices can be made through the JPA 1/09 form or through the Medical Assistance Fund (Tabung Bantuan Perubatan, TBP).
If a stent is not required after the angiography procedure, the deposit will be refunded within 14 working days after complete documentation is received, she said.
Ismie also said that in emergency or life-threatening situations, treatment will be provided immediately without delay, with payment matters handled afterwards.
The statement followed a complaint received by CodeBlue from an MOH staff member whose mother had been referred from Selayang Hospital to the UiTM Cardiology Centre at Al-Sultan Abdullah Hospital for heart failure treatment.
The staff member alleged that they were asked to place a RM10,000 deposit before the planned angiography procedure in case a coronary stent was required. The deposit would be used if a stent was inserted during the procedure and refunded if the device was not used.
The staff member questioned why coronary stents are not covered under the government GL scheme for civil servants, raising concerns about whether there has been any change in the scope of GL benefits for medical devices used during cardiac procedures.
JPA D-G Reaffirms Free Treatment Policy For Civil Servants
In a response to CodeBlue, however, Public Service Department (JPA) director-general Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said existing policy states that federal civil servants and their eligible dependents are entitled to free medical treatment at government health facilities, including university hospitals.
“The existing policy stipulates that Federal Public Service officers and their eligible family members are entitled to receive free medical treatment at government hospitals/ clinics,” Wan Ahmad Dahlan said.
“Government hospitals/ clinics mean any government hospital and include university hospitals, government clinics, and other federal medical foundations.”
Wan Ahmad Dahlan also said that if a required medical device or treatment cannot be provided at a government facility, the patient may obtain it from a private hospital or agency at the government’s expense, subject to regulations under General Orders Chapter F (Medical) 1974 and Section SR.2.1.1 of the Human Resource Services Circular (PPSM).
“In the case raised, if the stent (device) cannot be provided by a government hospital/ clinic, the officer may obtain it at a private hospital/ clinic/ agency at the government’s expense,” Wan Ahmad Dahlan said.
In such cases, the officer may apply for the expenditure through their head of department using Form 01/09 under Appendix SR.2.1.1 (J) of the PPSM. As the officer is an MOH staff member, the claim will be considered by the MOH.
“Therefore, the request for a deposit by a government hospital/ clinic does not arise,” Wan Ahmad Dahlan said.
