Medical centres registered for medical check-ups of migrant workers have urged the government to end the syndicate system in the sector.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) — a regional body of Persian Gulf nations — has appointed 12 medical centres for medical check-up of Gulf bound migrant workers while there are more than 200 medical centres registered for the purpose.

The GCC is encouraging syndicate system in the sector and there is no competition in the market, said president of Nepal Health Professional Federation (NHPF) — an umbrella organisation registered to provide medical check-up service to foreign job aspirants — Parvin Tiwari.

“GCC should call a bid and appoint successful medical centres in a transparent manner or provide authority to all medical centres,” he said,adding that the non-transparent behaviour of GCC has created problems in the sector.

According to Tiwari, GCC has agreed to abide by the laws of the land in its directive but is ignoring it in practice.There are more than 200 medical centres registered to provide medical check-up service to Gulf bound workers but they are not eligible for the purpose for workers leaving for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman. About 7,500 Nepalis have been joining jobs in the destinations every month.

The federation also filed a case against GCC Approved Medical Centres (GAMCA) Nepal at the Supreme Court last year. The case is under the consideration of the court.

“We are in a legal battle with GAMCA but want the government also to act on it,” said Tiwari, adding that the government can cancel the licence of GAMCA Nepal as it is promoting syndicate.

GAMCA has been charging more than the government

prescribed rate. The niche association of 12 medical centres has been charging Rs 4,000 for a medical check-up while the government rate is Rs 2940. Medical centres associated with the federation have been providing the service at Rs 2,500.

Meanwhile, NHPF has compensated about 2,672 migrant workers who returned to the country due to medical reasons. Malaysia has been returning workers who are found unfit during check-ups on arrival. The federation has been providing Rs 40,000 to workers who have returned due to medical reasons like calcification, urine problem, unsuitable communicable disease, and abnormal physical findings.

NHPF has compensated around Rs 100 million to medically unfit migrant workers in the last three and a half years.

There is no provision to compensate such workers but we have been doing so to help them in times of crisis.

Published on: 1 April 2013 | The Himalayan Times