(Sibu, 6th) In response to the decision by Sibu Hospital to implement fully cashless payments, Sarawak DAP Political Education Director, Irene Mary Chang Oi Ling, expressed deep concern. Although this initiative may align with broader digitization efforts, the management committee of Sibu Hospital must consider and contemplate the potential negative impacts of implementing this measure on the communities in the Central Region of Sarawak.
She made the above remarks in a press statement today. She said that Sibu Hospital serves the entire central region of Sarawak, with a significant portion of the patient population, including rural residents, senior citizens, and low-income groups,
“They may not hold debit or credit cards. Many of these individuals live day-to-day, heavily reliant on cash for daily transactions.”
She emphasized that this cashless policy could marginalize those who are already disadvantaged, including but not limited to stateless groups (who do not even possess the documentation required to open a bank account, let alone possess a debit or credit card), or individuals whose accounts are frozen due to legal or bankruptcy proceedings.
She stated that in the event of a medical emergency, these individuals would not be able to obtain medical services immediately but would need to seek relatives or friends to pay the bill via debit or credit card on their behalf. Will the hospital refuse to provide treatment and turn away those who cannot pay using debit or credit cards with real/reasonable reasons?
She pointed out that a cashless system is also heavily dependent on electricity or internet connectivity. In the event of a power outage or system failure, patients or visitors may be unable to pay for emergency medical services at critical moments. This reliance on technology might lead to avoidable delays and frustrations in emergencies.
While the intention behind the cashless payment measure is understandable, Cheng Ai Ling strongly urges Sibu Hospital to reconsider the implementation of this policy.
She believes that a significant portion of the population is not yet ready to embrace a completely cashless system, and therefore, this measure should not be implemented hastily in such an important public service. A hybrid system that accepts both cash and debit or credit card payments would better meet the diverse needs of the community. Inclusivity and accessibility should continue to be the cornerstone of public health services.