Why does the author argue against profit-driven priorities in healthcare?

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The Author Argues Against Profit-Driven Healthcare Due to Strained Systems and Deep Inequalities

The author contends that prioritizing profit in healthcare leads to the debilitation of essential services and exacerbates existing societal disparities. This is evidenced by the struggles faced by patients in Sabah, who must endure significant travel for treatment due to insufficient local resources, and the prohibitive costs of life-saving medications, rendering them inaccessible to a large segment of the population.
Strained Healthcare Infrastructure in Sabah

The healthcare system in Sabah is depicted as significantly burdened, forcing residents to travel to the state capital for medical attention because of a lack of resources in their home districts. This situation is further illustrated by the past necessity for cancer patients in Sabah to travel to Kuala Lumpur for certain treatments, highlighting a persistent deficit in accessible and advanced medical facilities within the state.
Prohibitive Costs of Cancer Treatment

The financial burden of cancer treatment is a central point of critique, with the author citing examples of drugs with substantial price tags. One immunotherapy drug, Perjeta, required the author to crowdfund a five-figure sum, while another patient faced a RM60,000 cost for a crucial medication, demonstrating how exorbitant expenses create insurmountable barriers to care for many individuals.
Misplaced Investment Priorities

A significant divergence is noted between the actual needs of the healthcare sector and the allocation of national resources. The author contrasts the demand for more doctors, nurses, and hospitals with the government's continued investment in infrastructure such as highways and data centers, coupled with budget cuts. This suggests a systemic failure to adequately fund and support public healthcare services.
Commodification of Healing

The author expresses strong disapproval of the transformation of healthcare into a market-driven industry, where "houses of healing" are described as having become "monuments to greed." This critique underscores a belief that the fundamental purpose of healthcare, which is to heal and care for people, has been corrupted by commercial interests that prioritize financial gain over human well-being.

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Why does the author argue against profit-driven priorities in healthcare?

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