Chapter 3- Report of the Research and Policy Development Group iv. Issues Regarding Access to Healthcare Services The issue of long queues in public hospitals was reiterated alongside the shortage of gerontologists and primary healthcare practitioners in Malaysia. Due to the lack of resources in public hospitals, older persons are sometimes forced to wait longer to access medical services including obtaining prostheses. v. Insufficient Funding for Care Centres Small scale operators mostly have problems regarding financial resources and trained human resources and these problems impede their ability to pursue licensing requirements. Operators see compliance with the licensing process as tedious and shrouded in red-tape as it requires clearance from multiple agencies. vi. Absence of a Minimum Standard of Care to be Observed by Care Providers Although the Government provides some funds for shelter homes, funding assistance and support are inconsistent across the different providers (public, NGOs and private). It is based on grants applied for and does not necessarily reflect the quantum of care provided. vii. Weak Implementation of Policies and Unequal Distribution of Services The main challenges in implementing the 1Malaysia Family Care (1MFC) programme under the National Blue Ocean Strategy are the issue of transportation to ferry the older persons to clinics for medical services and follow up check-ups as well as the continuity of activities conducted under the programme. viii. Lack of Promotion of the Rights of Older Persons There is a clear lack of promotion and awareness of the rights of older persons as well as of the National Policy for Older Persons. Lack of inter-agency coordination hinders the implementation of the Government’s policy and action plan. ix. Issues Related to Caregivers The changing pattern of living arrangements between parents and adult children, especially due to the migration of these children from rural to urban areas because of job opportunities, also impacted on the financial and non-financial support provided by children to their parents. Many caregivers, especially adult children in Malaysia who are in the low income category and financially unstable, are overburdened as they struggle to meet the needs of their own families while at the same time having to provide money and care to their aged parents. In order to promote greater discussion, a copy of the report was forwarded to JKM for their comments and on 11 November, a meeting with JKM was held to discuss the above report as well as the Commission’s findings. At the time of writing, the Commission was still waiting for further input from JKM on the above issues. The report will be made available to the public in 2015. 66