JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA: One of IJN's more famous heart transplant survivors, Tee Hui Yi, is worried that her family will not be able to afford the follow-up treatment she needs from the hospital.

Hui Yi was also shocked when told about the privatisation plan.

"My father will not be able to pay for my medicine if they wanted to charge us.

Her 51-year-old father, Tee Ah Soon, said that presently his daughter was eligible for free medication.

"If they decide to start charging, my daughter's medication will cost RM3,000(S$1241) each month," he said, adding that he only earned RM2,000 as a supervisor.

Tee said that besides the free medication, the check-ups that his daughter was going for free now might cost between RM500 to RM600 if they had to pay.

"I cannot afford this if they go private. I am also worried that the charges will be more after privatisation," he said when contacted.

Fellow heart transplant patient Muhd Fikri Nor Azmi, 18, hoped that there would not be any drastic changes because patients may not be able to cope with them.

"I've been an IJN patient for over seven years and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for them.

"But if the medical costs increase due to the privatisation, my family would definitely be burdened and we would have to make changes in our finances," he said.

However, he added that the takeover would be acceptable as long as Sime Darby fulfilled its responsibility to the poor.

Retired businessman K. Arul, 72, who had a bypass surgery at IJN, said he feared for the poor.

He said for the procedure that he underwent in 2004 he would have needed to pay at least RM50,000 if it was done at a private hospital.

However, thanks to his wife, who was a retired government servant, he was able to undergo the surgery for free at IJN.

Arul said that even without privatisation the hospital provided good services.

"They have very concerned staff who always make sure that I get the right medical attention," he said.