Ministry: Errant private hospitals, clinics can be shut down

Private hospitals or clinics that fail to abide by standards as stipulated under the Private Hospitals Act 1971 will be closed to protect patients' interest, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said however, the government would give time to the hospitals or clinics concerned to rectify the deficiencies and weaknesses identified in a specified period prior before closure orders were issued.

"We will not close a medical facility at our whim and fancy. We will help them comply with the conditions stipulated.

"But if they still fail to improve after being given sufficient time, we have no choice but to close them," he told a news conference after recording his Deepavali message at his residence here Wednesday.

Subramaniam said new private hospitals and clinics would not get a licence to operate until they meet the conditions and regulations stipulated.

He said a maternity hospital in Negeri Sembilan was given two weeks to improve its conditions, otherwise it would have its operations discontinued for violating the Act.

The hospital was found to have administered expired drugs and has no anaesthetist and sufficient specialist doctors, he said, adding that for the time being, it was not allowed to carry out surgical procedures and delivery services but could continue its outpatient services.