Socso claims hit snag due to 'untrained' doctors

By Zefry Dahalan

KUALA LUMPUR: Doctors sitting on the Social Security Organisation (Socso) panel are proving to be a stumbling block for workers applying for benefits, said Parti Sosialis Malaysia secretary-general S Arutchelvan.

He said many applications have been rejected because the doctors failed to associate the illness of the employee with the latter's nature of work.

Arutchelvan blamed this on government doctors who do not have the “Occupational Health Diseases” training.

“Because of their medical report, Socso rejects the application and instructs the worker to undergo another round of check-up. This creates hassle for the affected employee; a second check-up incurs cost and is a waste of time,” he added.

Arutchelvan submitted a memorandum regarding this matter to the Socso headquarters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Copies of the memorandum were also sent to Socso offices in Penang, Perak, Kelantan, Pahang, Johor and Negeri Sembilan.

Socso docs to undergo training starting Jan 1

Meanwhile, Arutchelvan also demanded that Socso increase the number of offices in every state as distance is a problem for those who are very sick and the disabled.

"Socso should open more offices and increase its staff to reduce the long wait. It should also be more efficient in processing the claims,” he said.

Sarawak has the highest number of Socso offices with seven, followed by Sabah, Perak and Johor five each); Kedah and Selangor (four each); Terengganu and Pahang (three each); Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Kelantan (two each); and Perlis, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Labuan with one each.

Speaking to FMT after meeting Socso's chief executive officer K Selvarajah, Arutchelvan said he was told that starting Jan 1, 2011, all Socso panel doctors will undergo the “Occupational Health Diseases” training.

To make it more accesible to the public, Selvarajah also informed Arutchelvan that Socso will declare every first Thursday of the month “Customer Sevice Day”.

Arutchelvan also urged Socso not to only liaise with trade unions but also with other concerned non-governmental groups.

"Trade unions only represent 7.5% of the whole employees in Malaysia. I appreciate Socso's efforts in working with the trade unions, but it would not be able to reach the majority of employees,” he said.