RTD responsible to the people

eKesihatan : Unhealthy health screening
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At first it was encouraging to learn that drivers of commercial vehicles will soon be subjected to a comprehensive medical check-up and certified fit before their driving licenses are renewed. These will include testing for drugs, alcoholism, cardiovascular and mental illnesses. The opinion changed on realizing the unhealthy developments that were taking place behind the medical screening scheme that is being implemented in a haste,“Unhealthy practice” (Sun,September 11).

The scheme, called eKesihatan, aims to ensure that only medically-fit drivers are behind the wheel of commercial vehicles. If implemented properly the scheme would definitely go a long way to improve the safety of public transport all over the country. The onus is on the Road Transport Department (RTD) to ensure the medical screening scheme is implemented effectively.

It is however unfortunate that that the project to improve the safety of our public transportation has been turned into a money-spinning one. The introduction of the middle agency,Supremme Systems Sdn.Bhd.is unnecessary and an waste of money.

Why can’t the RTD make arrangements with the government hospitals to screen drivers for illnesses? In fact the government hospitals are better equipped in every way to provide the service. If at all it needs the service of private clinics, why can’t they deal directly with the Malaysian Medical Association to make the arrangements?

Why should a third party be engaged and paid 41 % of the cost of each examination? It is ridiculous that the middle-man is paid more than the doctor who is solely responsible for carrying out the medical check up. More distressing is that the cost of such examinations have gone up from RM50 to RM 85,an additional burden on the drivers.

The RTD, a civil service department, is entrusted to safeguard the interest of the people by ensuring they enjoy a reasonably accepted level of safety of their public transportation. Why should that job be transferred to a third party, a private company in the form of Supremme System Sdn.Bhd.which will in no way be accountable to the rakyat?Is the RTD trying to abdicate its responsibility to the people who are paying them?

We are told that hundreds of panel clinics nationwide had been appointed under this programme to carry out the screening. There have been reservations expressed on the integrity of the clinics that are selected to do this important task. The RTD should bear this in mind and take great pains to select only those clinics with a good tract record to be granted these contracts. Merit alone should be only criteria in considering the appointment of the panel clinics.Favouritism in any form will be a sure cause of its failure.

Clinics must be responsible and ensure a high degree of competence and professionalism in conducting the medical examination. Medical laboratories undertaking to collect urine and blood samples should follow strict protocol to ensure accuracy and reliability of the tests conducted. Probably they should be done under the supervision of RTD officers to minimize the risk of cheating.

It is reported that about 500,000 licenses will be involved in this scheme. With each paying RM85, it would amount to RM42.5 million per year. This is a very large sum of money which calls for very stringent control or risk being mismanaged. Strict adherence to rules and regulations must be enforced at every stage and at all times. Anyone flouting the rules must be made to face the music regardless of his status or political alignment.

The RTD should be embarrassed for the Bukit Gantang tragedy and the high number of similar accidents. It should be embarrassed for allowing buses that are not roadworthy and unfit drivers to ply our highways. Instead of learning a lesson from the recent tragedy and resolving to serve the rakyat better, the RTD has used it to embark on another business venture with a corporate body with questionable credentials to carry out medical check-ups on drivers of commercial vehicles.

It is time the government departments take seriously the rights and welfare of the people at large. It is their duty to protect and safeguard our rights at all times. It would be morally wrong for them to run away from their responsibility to the rakyat by passing their job to private companies whose primary motive is profits.

The Sun was criticized for being an opposition paper but in fact it should be praised as a people’s paper for bringing issues like “Unhealthy practice” which affect the ordinary man on the street.

Dr.Chris Anthony