Borhan: Free medical treatment only for federal employees

SEREMBAN: Serving and retired civil servants in state governments, local councils and statutory bodies are only entitled to free treatment at government health facilities if their respective employers agree to bear the cost.

Public Service director-general Datuk Seri Borhan Dolah said only federal employees and their eligible family members are automatically entitled to free medical benefit at these facilities.

He said the matter came to light after statutory bodies filed complaints with the Health Ministry as to why they were being charged by government hospitals after their employees sought treatment there.

“This matter was also raised by public sector employees in the implementation group during a meeting last November.

“It has to be made clear that the free treatment is only extended to federal employees and their eligible family members as stated in directives issued in 1974 and 2009.

“However, the respective state governments, statutory bodies and local councils can adopt this but they will have to bear the cost involved,” he said in a directive.

Borhan said the procedure where the respective state governments, statutory bodies and local councils were required to bear medical costs for their employees was not new.

He said the Treasury secretary-general was authorised to decide whether these departments and agencies would have to pay the full cost or give exemptions as provided under the relevant regulations.

Cuepacs president Datuk Azih Muda, however, said all civil servants should be treated equally.

“I have also received reports that some employees in state governments, local councils and statutory bodies were asked to pay for treatment at government facilities. It is our hope the Federal Government can streamline this to ensure that all civil servants are given free medical treatment,” he said.