Ministry's new medical fee for foreigners challenged

comments     Bernama     Published     Updated

Sungai Siput Member of Parliament Dr. Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj today filed a leave application for a judicial review against the Health Ministry's guideline on the new medical fee for foreigners seeking treatment at government clinics and hospitals.

    

The guideline also concerned handling of foreigners who did not possess valid travel documents when they go to government clinics and hospitals to seek treatment.

In the leave application, Jeyakumar named the health minister, the Health Ministry and the Malaysian government as respondents.

The application was filed at the Civil High Court registry through the legal firm of Messrs Malik Imtiaz Sarwar.

Jeyakumar is seeking a declaration that the Health Ministry had acted without lawful basis in deciding the guideline and declined to discuss the implementation of the new medical fee for foreigners as contained in a circular with the title Guidelines on the Implementation of the Fee Order (Medical) (Service Cost) 2014, which was enforced on Jan 1, this year.

    

He is also seeking, among others, a mandamus order for the health minister and the Health Ministry to meet and discuss with interested parties to ensure circulars issued by the ministry were in line with the precepts of public health.

    

In a supporting affidavit, Jeyakumar said the guidelines by the ministry was unlawful and an infringement of the fundamental right.

    

He said the high fee imposed by the ministry would cause foreign workers to not seek treatment for their illness and this may result in the disease spreading.

- Bernama



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