Not compulsory, but journalists, your annual check-up could soon come with your press card

Malaysian Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil has proposed the idea of journalists undergoing annual health screenings as part of the media accreditation process, though he emphasized that this would not be a mandatory requirement. The proposal was unveiled during the launch of the Journalists' Health Screening Programme in collaboration with the Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur (CVSKL) Foundation.

Fahmi expressed his concern over the well-being of the approximately 12,000 media personnel in the country, stating that early detection of health issues could be crucial in preventing potential health complications. He suggested that the Information Department could inquire about the medical check-ups of journalists before issuing their annual accreditation cards, but clarified that this was not a decision to make the screenings compulsory.

The RM1 million initiative, funded by the ECM Libra Foundation and supported by the CVSKL Foundation, aims to enhance access to preventive healthcare services, specifically for active and retired journalists. By identifying non-communicable diseases at an early stage, the screenings could assist in early intervention and prevent any adverse health outcomes. Fahmi expressed the government's intent to encourage but not enforce the annual health screenings for media practitioners.