MIRI: The Northern Sarawak Journalists Association (NSJA) has decided to expand the coverage of its health screening programme in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Monday (June 28), NSJA president Andy Jong said the decision would help alleviate the financial burden faced by 90 of its members during this period.
“The allowance, which was implemented in 2016 with a maximum payment of RM100 for every two years, had been increased to a maximum of RM200 a year, since 2019.
“This year, following Covid-19, we have decided to expand the coverage whereby they (members) can use it for Covid-19 swab tests.”
He was speaking after paying a courtesy call on Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin.
He added that members only needed to produce the health screening official receipt to NSJA to claim the allowance of up to RM200 in a single receipt.
“Members can redeem RM200 from the association using official receipts from the laboratory or medical centres where they do their medical check-ups.
The receipt or invoice can be claimed from Jan 1 until Dec 31 this year.
Those whose tests cost more than RM200 will have to pay for the extra charges themselves.
Previously, the allowance was limited to medical check-ups and vaccinations (hepatitis A/B and other vaccines).
Jong thanked Lee for contributing RM10,000 to implement the health screening allowance since 2018.
Established in 1974, NSJA has more than 90 members comprising practitioners of print media representing Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin language newspapers as well as electronic media representatives stationed in Miri.
