KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 — The government has postponed renewal of Fomema’s concession for medical examination and screening of foreign workers to December as general practitioners push for an improvement on the 18-year-old terms of contract.
Health deputy director-general Datuk Dr S. Jeyaindran said the concession renewed every seven years expired on Wednesdayand had not been extended as “‘there were issues that needed to be sorted out’’.
“It has been postponed for six months. However, doctors will continue to carry out medical examination and screening of foreign workers until the concession is signed. Current rates will still apply,” he told Malay Mail.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr John Chew said the government should review terms of the concession which had remained constant since 1998 while other costs incurred by doctors had increased.
He said the scope and complexity of the examinations had expanded, resulting in increased workload per patient for doctors.
Doctors have to carry out extra tests and examinations without reimbursement or added payment, he said.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the matter was to be settled between the MMA, Fomema and the Economic Planning Unit (EPU).
“They (GPs) have to discuss the matter with the EPU to find a solution. It is not really a postponement of the signing but discussions are being carried out to find a solution,” he told reporters after International Yoga Day celebrations here.
Under the concession, GPs get RM60 per patient examined with an additional RM25 for X-rays.
Doctors are asking for an increase in fees to RM90 for medical examinations and RM50 for X-rays.
Dr Chew said MMA was waiting for a meeting with the ministry on the matter with no date set as yet.
He said the complexity of medical examinations had increased as doctors had to check, among others, for infectious diseases and mental health.
“GPs have been complying and doing extra with no increase in remuneration. We have not been consulted this time around on the renewal of concession,” he said.
“We are asking for the concession holder to talk to us.”
Employers are required to make upfront payment to Fomema with RM201.40 charged for women and RM190.80 for men, inclusive of the Goods and Services Tax.
The fee for women was higher because of the pregnancy test.
Dr Chew said it was time-consuming to carry out additional tests which included the mental health examination to rule out mental instability.
“This is not a five-minute assessment,” he said, adding that some examinations could take up to 30 minutes.
He said additional reimbursement had to be made to doctors who were on the financial losing end due to rising costs.
“About 500 clinics have closed over the last five years because the cost of practice has gone up. Doctors aren’t getting much profit despite performing an important public service,” said Dr Chew.
“We have a legitimate right to ask because of the demand of foreign workers in the country.”
It is understood that Fomema’s hands are tied in the matter as the Public Private Partnership Unit (Ukas) in the Prime Minister’s Department makes the final call on new terms.
