Medical chits going for as low as RM10 each

(April 20, 2009) :

Sick of work? You can buy a medical chit for as low as RM10 if you are in the know.According to a report in Nanyang Siang Pau today, MC chits can easily be bought from clinics.

In a random survey last month on 18 clinics in Petaling Jaya, Brickfields, Pudu, Kampung Baru, Kepong and Jalan Chow Kit by the daily's reporters who were disguised as students, two were found to be selling MC chits without consultation for RM10 and RM25 respectively.Another two required the "students" to see the doctors before they were issued the chits.

However, most of clinics do not engage in the sale of MC chits and some stressed that they would not issue the chit on request unless it is deemed necessary.

On March 15, a Nanyang reporter posing as a student approached a clinic in Kepong and asked if she could obtain an MC for a fee. "Yes" came the reply from the counter staff who asked for her MyKad.The staff was careful, lowered her voice and asked the reporter to follow her to the consultation room where a male doctor was in attendance.

Doc: Where do you live?

Reporter: PJ

Doc: Where do you work?

Reporter: I am still studying

Doc: What sickness do you want me to write down?

Reporter: er ... fever.

Doc: OK. Remember not to come back within two months (for MC chit).

Reporter: OK, thanks.

In another clinic in Kuala Lumpur the next day, the reporter told a nurse at the counter she wanted to buy an MC.The nurse was initially suspicious but dropped her guard when the reporter said her friend had recommended the particular clinic.The reporter, again claiming to be a student, obtained the chit in five minutes without seeing the doctor.

Reporter: I want to buy an MC.

Nurse (laughing): Where do you work?

Reporter: I am a student.

Nurse: How do you know this place (has medical chits for sale)?

Reporter: A friend recommended.

Nurse: Why do you need an MC?

Reporter: Personal reasons.

Nurse (taking out some pills): I'll write down fever and give you some Panadol.

Reporter: Can I have vitamins? I don't want painkillers.

Nurse: OK. But (vitamins) in liquid form, more convenient to give the pills.

Reporter: Can I take the (Panadol) pills if I have headache in the future?

Nurse: Yes. Because you are a student, I charge you RM25. But for those who are working, I charge RM28.

Reporter: Wow, so expensive?

Nurse: It is cheap already.

Cases like these are believed to be repeated daily in many other clinics due to the demand for MC chits.The question of ethics aside, the rampant sale of MC chits will have an impact on companies in terms of performance and medical costs incurred by the errant employees.