Ministers, MPs urged to go for annual check-ups

PUTRAJAYA: Cabinet ministers and MPs are encouraged to undergo a health screening once a year, says Dr Zaliha Mustafa.

The Health Minister said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim brought up the matter again during the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (Aug 2).

She said this was timely in light of Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub's death after suffering a brain aneurysm recently.

"The health screening was previously suggested by Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul and brought up in the Agenda Nasional Sihat Malaysia (ANMS) committee meeting by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in March.

"We want to remind everyone their health should be a priority. As such we would like to encourage them to undergo a thorough health screening at least once a year.

"It will likely be implemented in the next Parliament session (in September). Ministry staff will hold programmes and activities to encourage everyone to undergo the health screening," she said after launching the ministry's Safety and Health Day 2023 celebration here on Wednesday (Aug 2).

Dr Zaliha also said all ministry staff would be vaccinated for influenza vaccine, with priority given to frontliners. She added they were waiting to purchase the vaccines.