Malaysia’s Transport Ministry said fewer than 20 commercial vehicle drivers participated in its subsidised health screening programme within the first month of implementation on August 13, 2026 [1, 2].
The programme launched on June 30 and began on July 1, targeting about 30,000 commercial vehicle drivers aged 40 to 59 in its initial phase [1, 2]. Drivers pay RM30 for the screening, with a RM55 subsidy from the Social Security Organisation (Socso/Perkeso), bringing the total screening cost to RM85 [3, 1, 2].
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said, "I was informed a few days ago that not even 20 people had participated within the one-month period that we had planned" [1]. He added the Ministry’s efforts were "not to pressure anyone or add to their burden, but for safety and to ensure a healthier industry" [3].
The Ministry criticized the prior medical examination process as unverifiable in terms of thoroughness. Loke said, "We are not saying it was not done, but it simply could not be determined whether a thorough examination had been conducted properly before" [1]. He said the new programme uses a digitally integrated approach to improve systematic health screening and monitoring [3, 2].
Despite the subsidy and new technology, uptake has been low. Officials attribute it to the programme’s recent launch and limited awareness among drivers [1]. The Ministry emphasized that the measures aim to enhance driver health and road safety by early detection of medical conditions that could cause accidents [3, 1, 2].
The programme continues to focus on enrolling the large target group of commercial drivers aged 40 to 59. Further outreach efforts are expected to raise participation in the coming months [1, 2].
