Sickly pensioners left in the lurch

PENSIONERS were very glad when the Public Services Department (PSD) decided to use Oratis Rx Sdn Bhd to provide them with their medication that was prescribed by government doctors, but were not available in government pharmacies.
However, since February the services of Oratis have been stopped and no alternative was made available for this scheme.
The notification on the PSD website merely stated that we were to be patient and wait for the alternative to be announced. But up till today no such alternative has been announced. Many of us had our prescriptions from the pharmacies stopped even before February.
Since the pharmacies adhered to the instruction that only three months was to be supplied at one time. So this means that we were left with the balance in limbo. So what do pensioners do now?
PSD has been silent so far. How do we get the balance we require? It has been claimed that Malaysia has the best medical treatment in the world. But the government hospitals prescribe generic medication, which is sometimes not suitable for certain patients who suffer reactions to them.
For example, some eye patients need eye drops with no preservatives. These are not available in government hospitals and have to be bought from private clinics. And what about cancer and other ailing patients? If we have to buy the drugs we require and then claim from PSD as was the case before, where do we get the funds to do so, especially those who do not get much as pension?
And what about the forms to be used and the required signatures. And now that PSD is in Putrajaya, how do we get the forms from and to PSD – over the internet and by posting?
Why treat these faithful retired civil servants like this now that they are old, feeble and sickly?
Clearly PSD has to come out with a good proposal and to come out with it fast. Pensioners are now suffering from this impasse.
Mabel Marbeck
Kuala Lumpur