Subsidised health screening for commercial vehicle drivers needs more push — Loh Foon Fong

On Thursday, the Malay Mail reported that only a small number of commercial vehicle drivers have taken advantage of the government's subsidised health screening programme, launched last month. Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook revealed that the response to the Pemandu Sihat dan Selamat (PSS) initiative has been low, despite drivers only having to pay RM30 for a comprehensive health examination, with the Social Security Organisation (Socso) covering the remaining RM55.

The Transport Minister believes that a more intense promotional campaign is needed to encourage more drivers to participate in the screening and receive necessary care.

Loh Foon Fong, an independent senior health writer, highlighted the importance of this initiative in protecting drivers and other road users. In Malaysia, there is a significant number of people suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure, which can pose safety issues for drivers, passengers, and other road users. According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023, 15.6% of adults (about 3.6 million people) have diabetes and 29.2% (about 6.7 million people) have hypertension.

If these conditions are not controlled, they can lead to sudden health issues such as strokes or heart attacks while driving, causing accidents and endangering lives.

Loh stressed that the lack of awareness and care for drivers' health could result in road accidents, affecting not only the drivers but also their passengers and other road users. He suggested that this health screening should ideally be made mandatory for commercial vehicle drivers. While some may worry about losing income during the screening period due to their inability to drive, Loh believes that policy changes could help alleviate this concern.

Another critical aspect that should be addressed is drug use among drivers. A diabetic lorry driver interviewed by Loh admitted to taking medication to stay awake during long drives due to extreme fatigue caused by his uncontrolled diabetes. This highlights the need for increased health literacy education and policy improvements for workers' welfare in this sector.

To further promote the screening campaign, temporary health screening centres could be set up at highway rest areas. Additionally, installing exercise machines at rest stops could help drivers maintain better blood circulation and alertness, reducing the risk of accidents. These measures can significantly contribute to road safety and encourage more commercial vehicle drivers to take advantage of the government's subsidised health screening programme.