HAVING recently had heart surgery, I can appreciate the suffering and premature death that many Malaysians must experience through not being able to afford not only surgery but post-operative medication.

My surgery cost more than RM45,000 and post-operative medication is more than RM500 a month. These figures are way beyond the range of the ordinary wage earner. I was fortunate to be covered by an expensive health card. Most are not.

A national health scheme, possibly based on a model similar to the Australian system, would be a life-saver. A surcharge of one per cent on personal income tax would cover a national hospital-medical scheme.

Furthermore, removing the subsidy on petroleum products would save the government billions in revenue loss, which in a sense is a subsidy to the richer members of our community who own petrol- guzzling vehicles.

This money could be poured into health services which would improve the well-being of all.

Source: NST – January 9, 2008