It says that every guideline for the implementation of digital radiographs must come from the ministry of health itself.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) today called for more transparency in the screening of the health of foreign workers, and says that every guideline for the implementation of digital radiographs must come from the Ministry of Health.

In a statement, it says that there is currently a lack of transparency in the screening process for foreign workers, particularly in assignments for X-ray facilities in the laboratory and in the chest.

Such services are currently being offered by the Foreign Workers Medical Examination Monitoring Agency (FOMEMA), of which MMA said it received the concession in 1997.

It also noted that the concession agreement, signed between the Ministry of Health, Fomema and the Public Private Partnership Unit (Ukas), which at the time was under the prime minister's office, was extended and signed in December 2016 and placed despite the official secrecy law. strong objections from MMA.

"The concession agreement includes medical screening by selected clinic providers, laboratories for blood and urine screening for communicable diseases and X-ray photos on the chest for X-ray facilities appointed by Fomema.

"In addition, Fomema was appointed by a company that provides X-ray transfer and software to provide the service, but unfortunately there is a lack of transparency in the allocation of laboratory and chest X-rays," said MMA President Dr. Mohamed Namazie. Ibrahim in a statement.

His comments follow Fomema's announcement earlier this month that all panel clinics and X-ray facilities will have to convert X-ray films to digital format next year.

President and CEO of Fomema, Mohd Hatar Ismail, said that the digital format, introduced in 2014 and supported by the Ministry of Health, was aimed at improving the quality and standard of health research services for foreign workers in the country.

Namazie said that MMA welcomed the efforts of the ministry, but warned that this would be at the expense of the providers.

"The guideline for the implementation of digital radiographs ought to come from the Ministry of Health with an appropriate review of reimbursements to cover the additional costs of purchasing digital X-ray equipment and other administrative costs," he said.

He added that Fomema Panel Clinics had incurred more costs to meet the new requirements of a third party appointed by Fomema in terms of software purchases from the company.

He urged Fomema to send the X-rays to other suppliers and the competition could reduce the costs of delivering the service.

"The Ministry of Health, as the main signatory of the concession contract, must intervene to address the lack of transparency and solve GPs' problems," he added.