Docs okay e-Kesihatan revamp

Star: PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association and Koperasi Doktor Malaysia Bhd are happy with the revamp of the e-Kesihatan scheme.
Association president Datuk Dr Khoo Kah Lin said doctors should play a major role in the medical aspect of the scheme.
He said the association and the Health Ministry regularly hold discussions about the scheme over the past 12 months, and would like to meet up with the Transport Minister as well.
“We hope that while implementing the new scheme, there are sufficient safeguards to ensure orderly and ethical work practices. “The association’s technical committee has prepared a detailed format of clinical and laboratory tests relevant for screening and certification of drivers to drive commercial vehicles,” he said.
Dr Khoo agreed with removing the exclusivity of Supremme Systems, saying that all doctors registered with the Malaysian Medical Council should be allowed to carry out examinations on the drivers.
According to the cooperative’s chairman, Dr J.S. Deo, check-ups can be conducted at the cost of RM65 per driver — lower than the RM80 that Supremme Systems wanted to charge.
“We feel it is not right to make money from this. And without a middleman, we hope the Road Transport Department will have a transparent system and also incorporate a mechanism to catch medical frauds. We are willing to help,” he said.
Dr Deo said urine tests for amphetamines should be dropped from the regular check-ups and should only be requested during spot checks.
“The test is not absolute. If the driver stopped taking the drugs three to four days before a check-up, his result will be negative,” he said.
The revised scheme will allow doctors to conduct medical check-ups for commercial vehicle drivers instead of it being run solely by private company Supremme Systems Sdn Bhd.
Pan Malaysian Lorry Owners Association president Er Sui See said it was a good move to cut off the middlemen. “We don’t want anyone making money from us. And with the scheme, runners cannot cari makan anymore. This will put an end to bogus medical certificates,” he said.