JPJ postpones imlementation of eKesihatan

PUTRAJAYA: The implementation of a new health screening process for commercial vehicle drivers using eKesihatan panel clinics has been postponed indefinitely.
Road Transport Department director-general Datuk Ahmad Mustapha Abdul Rashid said in a statement that the Cabinet had on Wednesday decided to postpone the programme, which was scheduled to kick-off on Oct 1.
When contacted, he said he had received a message in the afternoon to make a statement on the matter.
"I do not know the details (of the decision). The Minister (Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy) is not around so I don't know the details apart from the statement that I have been asked to make.
"The present system, using the manual form for health screening purposes, remains," he said.
On Sept 10, JPJ had announced the implementation of eKesihatan, where commercial vehicle derivers would be tested for drugs under a medical check-up scheme when they renew or apply for new licences.
The new scheme would also see the drivers being checked for other problems like alcoholism, drug addiction and cardiovascular and mental illness.
The move was supposed to affect more than 700,000 public services vehicle (PSV) licence, goods driving licence (GDL) and conductor licence (KON) holders.
JPJ deputy director-general Solah Mat Hassan when announcing this had said the scheme was aimed to ensure that only medically-fit drivers were behind the wheel of commercial vehicles.
Under the scheme, the results would be electronically transmitted to JPJ via a government-appointed gateway provider, Supremme Systems Sdn Bhd, while payments and registration for the tests would have to be done at post offices before a driver proceeded to the appointed panel clinic.
A total of 611 panel clinics nationwide had been appointed under the new programme and those applying or renewing their goods driving, passenger service vehicle and conductors licences have to pay RM80 for the test.
However, the scheme received a lot of protest from doctors, the Malaysian Medical Council as well as owners and drivers of commercial vehicles nationwide.
They claimed the fees were exorbitant and questioned the appointment of Supremme Systems as they felt such a scheme did not need a third party to operate.
Chan, who is Transport Minister, is in Canada to bid for Malaysia to be elected as a council member of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

MMC: Scheme introduced too hastily

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) is the latest medical body to voice concern about the legitimacy of the eKesihatan scheme, saying that it had been introduced too hastily and raised various ethical issues.
Its president Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said yesterday that proper consultation with the Health Ministry and other medically relevant professional bodies should have been done.
This was because the new scheme seemed to place restrictions on the duties and responsibilities of a medical practitioner by dictating who a vehicle driver could consult and whose findings would not be accepted by the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
In a strongly worded statement, he said the MMC had the exclusive right to register medical practitioners in the country under the Medical Act.
Once registered and possessing the annual practising certificate, the practitioner had the “sole prerogative” to examine, diagnose, investigate and treat within the parameters of his training and legal framework.
Any certificate, notification, report or document signed by the practitioner was evidence that he actually examined the person, he said.
“As the custodian of medical practice in this country, the council is very concerned with any move to place any restrictions or conditions on the practice of any registered practitioner,” he said.

tunku : it's good to have all the commercial vehicle drivers to go for medical check-up but the point here is why have to go through third party(Supreme System Sdn Bhd). Who owns this company? this company will just make money without doing much work and the drivers have to bear for it. It's believe that they got 5 years contract and will generate the company some RM135million. If they feel that the integrity of panel clinics can still be questioned,revoke their license.If a driver is test positive with drugs, just check from which clinic he got cleared.Investigates and if found that the doctor had issue a false medical report, revoke the doctor's license. anyway they medical check-up be an annually affair, so if the driver wants to go for a check-up, may be they'll stop to take drugs for sometimes to clear the check-up, but i believe the check-up is still very important as to know whether the driver is fit to drive.