Dr Teh (left) and Chieng alerting the public to scammers offering health screenings.
The public has been advised to be wary of anyone claiming their health screening campaign was sanctioned by the authorities.
Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng said he had received complaints from people who had signed up and paid for these screenings, and lost money.
“The victims were told that they could get rebates from Employees Provident Fund for the screenings.
“The amounts they paid were up to several thousands of ringgit,” he said at a press conference in Sibu, Sarawak.
Chieng said he had also received calls informing him that he was “lucky to have been selected for a health screening”, with the callers claiming that the screenings were endorsed by Health Ministry.
“The victims told me that they had signed up for the screenings because they had seen the Health Ministry logo (linked to info material on the campaign).”
Sibu Division Health Department chief Dr Teh Jo Hun clarified that the Health Ministry was not collaborating with any company holding health screenings at hotels.
“If we have a health screening campaign, it is usually within a hospital,” he said.
He highlighted that health screenings conducted by Hospital Sibu were free.“An example of our partnership with a private company for health checks is with Protect Health, administrator for Peduli Kesihatan (Peka B40) health screening aid programme.
“Another example is the Sarawak Senior Citizens Health Benefits cashless outpatient treatment service, for which 88 private clinics have registered as participants,” he added.
Dr Teh advised the public to call his department at 084-315 494 to check on the authenticity of any health screening campaign.
