TB is alive and kicking

TB is alive and kicking again, well what new. Interestingly the article pointed out that the TB cases are due to influx of foreign worker coming in but honestly this has to be due to fact that there are alot of illegal workers coming into Malaysia. This is simple because if you are applying for a visa to work in Malaysia then a health screening is conducted by FOMEMA and its panel clinic. So in theory all the foreign workers coming into this country should be healthy and if they want to renew the visa, again another health screen is needed.

Honestly, if the foreign workers are carrying TB then is should be due to the failure of FOMEMA, its panel clinic and its panel lab. I have first hand experience in this matter and have seen employers requesting certain illness or health condition to be omitted from the final result of the health screening. However, FOMEMA realise that they have a system that is flawed and they are in the process of correcting it.


Secondly, we should learn from other countries on how to handle these kinds of problem. For example: upon entering the UK; visa holders and asylum seekers must provide an xray and also a medical report to their medical unit that is stationed close to the immigration. If you don't have a copy of a valid and clear x-ray then you are immediately taken to the x-ray room to get it done. By doing this they are ensuring that everyone entering UK don't have illnesses such as TB. It is clear that because of the number of people then is always a very long line at the medical centre and it takes hours just to pass through this and the immigration but the officials certainly don't care. Their mentality is set to if are not healthy and don't have the correct document then we are letting you into the country.


Its harsh, I have personally waited for 3 hours just to clear through this but their system work and the number of TB cases in the UK is very low and under controlled. This is the reality, we have to be harsh in order to control certain things.