Middlepersons in Covid-19 screening: MMA urges govt to conduct audit
COVID-19 | Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged the government to conduct an on-site audit on the mandatory Covid-19 screening of foreign workers.
The audit, which could be done through the Private Medical Practice Control Section (CKAPS), is necessary to prevent increasing attempts by middlepersons to commercialise the Covid-19 screenings due to the high demand, said MMA president Dr Subramaniam Muniandy.
"There seems to be no control or enforcement over the activities of these...
COVID-19 | Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has urged the government to conduct an on-site audit on the mandatory Covid-19 screening of foreign workers.
The audit, which could be done through the Private Medical Practice Control Section (CKAPS), is necessary to prevent increasing attempts by middlepersons to commercialise the Covid-19 screenings due to the high demand, said MMA president Dr Subramaniam Muniandy.
"There seems to be no control or enforcement over the activities of these middlepersons acting as agents to provide Covid-19 screening to the employers.
"It must be noted that these middlepersons are not healthcare providers.
"Employers must be aware that it is the general practitioners (GPs) who will be fully liable and solely responsible for the screenings and standard of care provided," he said in a statement today.
For the record, the first phase of the Socso mandatory Covid-19 RTK Antigen screening of foreign workers is now being conducted in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, Labuan, Penang and Sabah. The screenings are mostly conducted on-site at factories and construction sites.
Last month, the Health Ministry had stated that the Covid-19 tests by the private sector can only be carried out at a private medical clinic, ambulatory care centre, or a private hospital.
It said that only private medical clinics could offer on-site screening in places such as factories, public halls, or in offices.
Socso had informed employers to directly contact the GPs listed on their panel for the mandatory Covid-19 screenings.
The full list of clinics on their panel is listed on their website here.
Subramaniam said MMA had highlighted the issue of middlepersons attempting to squeeze GPs for the lowest fees possible to earn a bigger cut from the employers.
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