01   When should we register our foreign worker(s) for medical examination?

      The guidelines by the Immigration Department stipulate that employers must take appropriate steps to renew the work permits of their workers 3 months before their expiry.

      We would advise employers to place importance on this annual medical examination to avoid unnecessary inconvenience due to last minute registration. We also wish to caution employers that they may be subject to compound/fine by Immigration Department for late renewal.

02   Why is there a quota imposed on each doctor of the panel?

03   Why can't we choose the same doctor as in the previous year?

04   Can Fomema direct or instruct which doctor we should choose?

      No. It is the responsibility of employers to choose the doctor for their foreign workers' for medical examination. To facilitate the selection by employers, detailed listings of the panel of registered doctors are publicly displayed at all Fomema branches or at http://www.fomema.com.my/docavail.php. We stress that, Fomema and its staff are not responsible for the selection. Disciplinary actions have been taken against those found doing so.

05   Can we change the selected clinic?

      If an employer provides a valid reason, Fomema can change the selected clinic. Otherwise an administrative fee of RM20 is levied for each change. The fee is a deterrent measure introduced to curb the abuse of our system. It also enhances the integrity and quality of medical examination and minimizes disruption to counter services.

06   Why are reputable private hospitals not allowed to participate?

      The decision to disallow private hospitals to carry out foreign workers' medical examination is a directive from the MOH. However, the MOH permits any registered doctor of a private hospital to carry out medical examination on foreign workers who are employed by the staff of that hospital.

      At that point in time, there are no results to transmit. Foreign workers must undergo the required medical examination at the chosen doctor's clinic and x-ray centre before the doctor can submit the results to Fomema. We advise employers to start the process of medical examination early to avoid unforeseen circumstances or delay.

08   Why do Fomema registered doctors and X-ray centres insist on us presenting the original passport?

      It is crucial for the purpose of verification of the identity of the foreign workers under this mandatory health-screening program. Fomema has detected attempts by irresponsible parties/employers using substitutes to undergo medical examination on behalf of unhealthy workers. It is our standard operating procedure that doctors must not carry out the medical examination unless the identity of the foreign worker is ascertained.

      Only the original passport is the legal document for the purpose of identification under this mandatory annual health-screening program.

10   Can we use the photocopy of the original passport for verification of identity?

      No, it is not valid for the purpose of this crucial procedure of verification of identity.

      We wish to explain that a doctor is physically only capable of carrying out a limited number of medical examinations per day. As a guide, a through medical examination based on our standard format of medical examination takes about 15 minutes to complete.

      Therefore, we advise employers to make an appointment with the doctor concerned to schedule the medical examination of their workers if they intend to bring a large number of workers.

      This can happen when either the x-ray findings or the laboratory's test results or both have shown abnormalities and these concerned have transmitted their findings accordingly. Despite the findings of abnormalities by X-ray clinic or laboratory, your chosen doctor had certified your worker SUITABLE. In such a situation of inconsistencies, our system of monitoring automatically detects them and upon our investigation (and based on criteria set by the MOH), the worker's status will be amended to UNSUITABLE. An example would be where the laboratory test detected the presence of hepatitis B antigen but the doctor chooses to transmit the certification as SUITABLE. This is the essence of the health-screening program under our system, to detect and prevent inconsistencies or likely abuses.

13   Can Fomema change the status of our foreign workers to UNSUITABLE?

      Yes, if we have subsequent evidence that the worker has not met the criteria of SUITABLE certification even though the examining doctor had initially certified the foreign worker as suitable. This mainly arises from our auditing of the X-ray films by our X-ray Quality Control Centre, where the X-ray film was initially misread as 'normal'. In such a situation, Fomema will inform the employer, the doctor and the Immigration Department accordingly that the foreign worker's status has been amended to UNSUITABLE.

15   Can we also select the X-ray clinic of our choice?

      When the employers choose the registered doctor, the X-ray facility has already been pre-assigned to that doctor as indicated in the Fomema 4-ply Foreign Worker Information form. The X-ray clinics are assigned to the doctors when they register with Fomema, based on criteria set by the MOH taking into account the independence of operation and the integrity necessary under this annual mandatory health-screening program.

16   When will the medical status of my foreign workers be available at the Immigration Department?

      Under normal circumstances, Fomema will be able to transmit the certification of the medical status to the Immigration Department Headquarters within 10 workings days from the date of examination by the doctor of your workers. (Please note that it is not from the date of registration with Fomema) .

      Fomema is required to transmit the medical status of foreign workers only to the Immigration Department Headquarters' database. The medical status is then re-transmitted from the Immigration Department Headquarters to the respective state Immigration Departments. Therefore, a time lapse of some duration may arise when connectivity is affected between the state level Immigration Department and the Headquarters. In such situations, you can always seek Fomema's assistance.

      The medical status of foreign workers are only available for 3 months at the Immigration Department from the date of medical examination.

19   We think the medical examination fee of RM180 and RM190 for male and female respectively is high.

      The fee was determined by the Government in 1997 based on the requirements and standard format of medical examination as stipulated by the MOH. The fees have not changed since the inception of Fomema in 1997 and it is lower than the recommended fee by the Malaysian Medical Association for similar medical examination.

20   Why must foreign workers undergo medical examinations annually?

      The frequency of the medical examination under the mandatory screening program has been determined by the MOH. Furthermore, medical examination in principle is only valid for a limited period of time. Certain diseases may be in remission or inactive during the previous examination. These may relapse or reactivate subsequently. Also, some diseases may be freshly acquired.

21   Why must we go through Fomema?