SEREMBAN: Adoptive parents and step-parents of civil servants are now eligible for free medical treatment at government hospitals and clinics.
They can also claim reimbursements from the government if they have no choice but to seek treatment at private medical centres.
Public Service director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam said these parents would be accorded the privilege as long as the civil servant was still working.
"The government has decided to extend this benefit to the adoptive and step parents of the civil servants as well.
“However, their ties must be legalised and the relevant documentation stating their relationship must be submitted to the authorities before they can gain from this," he said in a circular.
The new ruling, aimed at improvising benefits for government employees, took effect Nov 1.
He said civil servants must also notify their department heads of the relationship and have their personal details entered in their service record.
"Also, the privilege is only given to adoptive or step parents residing in Malaysia," he said adding that the privilege would also be extended to the adoptive and step parents of those employed on contract or temporary basis.
Ismail said if the adoptive or step parent was a government retiree, then he can either chose to use his own entitled benefits or that of his civil servant child.
He said in the event of an emergency, the adoptive and step parents of the civil servant can seek medical treatment at the nearest private medical centre or clinic if there was no government hospital or clinic located nearer.
"However, they are only allowed to do so if is a life-threatening emergency," he said adding that this has to be verified by the doctor at the private facility.
They can also seek specialist treatment at private hospitals provided they had first been examined by a government doctor and claim for this.
Ismail said the same applies if the parents wish to seek treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN).
"To be entitled for this, the parents must be referred by a physician or cardiologist from a government or private hospital to the IJN," he said adding that parents were, however, not entitled to receive medical treatment abroad.
Ismail said the adoptive or step parents are also not entitled to cosmetic treatment such as crowning, dentures or orthodontic (to correct irregular teeth and facial imbalance).
"They cannot seek medical treatment which was prevention in nature as well," he said.
The parents can also seek reimbursement if they need to undergo dialysis or to buy medicines not available at any government hospital or clinic.
"These claims must be first approved by the respective civil servant's department head," he said.
Ismail said civil servants can however seek medical treatment abroad if this is not available here.
However, this has to be first endorsed by the medical board.
The Health Ministry director-general must also acknowledge that such treatment was unavailable in the country before the particular civil servant could proceed.
When contacted, Cuepacs president Omar Osman said the new ruling would greatly reduce the financial burden on civil servants with adoptive or step parents.
"We discussed this with the PSD two months ago as there are many civil servants facing financial problems providing medical care for their adoptive or step parents. We are grateful that this has been resolved," he added.
The Star Online
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