As I was flipping around the news online, the headline immediately caught my attention:
Chua: Health screening at shopping centres illegal
PETALING JAYA: Health screening and checks cannot be conducted at shopping centres and hotels.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said those who carried out such tests were doing so without the approval and support of the ministry.
I believe this is a very common scenes in the shopping malls these days. The most common types would be tests for diabetes. I have never gone for such tests, worrying that there might be a catch. As for me, I go for blood test in the Pathlab, which reminds me, I forgot to go this year.
Anyway, other than health screenings, there are also plenty of skin screening, skin test where you put on face on the machine, then they will tell you your skin condition, dry or too oily, which part of your face suffers from serious clogged pores and etc. Of course, they will immediately sale their products to you. Nothing is free in this world, unless you are really persistent. I have gone for 2 free skin tests like these out of curiosity, of course I did not let them earn a single cent. I don’t know if there is any potential harm to skin with the test, but, for all I know is, if you have a soft ear, you are bound to fall for their tricks!
So, always be a smart consumer! For more info on this news, read here.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
As much I am to understand that the ‘unauthorized’ does not equal to ‘illegal’. I just feel that the word ‘illegal’ is used inappropriately here.
Nothing is free in this world even free government health checkups I would reckon. Then again, there needs to be more smarter people in this world.
Last time when I was working with the bank, there’s a guy who is purportedly from some medical centre or laboratory invited by my ex boss for a talk on benefit and importance of health screening.The guy started by telling all the bank staff the type of disease that any normal human being will get without them knowing it and the symptom that manifest itself like a normal backache, headache, pain in the joints and other host of daily discomfort that may be associated with some chronic disease. That scares everyone and within half an hour after the guy finnish his talk, about 10 of my colleague sign up for the comprehensive test that can check on about 3 dozens of cancers, tumours, cardiovascular disease and a host of other ailments and a free MRI and CT Scan for brain ailments. The cost of the checking is not cheap at about RM188 per person. The guy juzt withdraw their blood at the spot and the result will have to be obtained from their laboratory with an expert to explain the result of the test.
This type of people who is looking for quick money will use all sort of tactic and not only at shopping complex. So please beware.
hinching: ‘illegal’ might have been a stronger word, but, it did serve the whole idea about ‘warning’. People get conned easily, human nature. Same goes to me.
lily: thanks for sharing the experience. sometimes, the salesman are just too aggressive. all they care is the amount of deals they close. so, knowing the human nature, as in we are so afraid of the hidden diseases, it is really not hard for them to get good biz. like even 10 of your colleagues signed up with 30 mins, thts really good money for them. so, its safer to just go to those lab for test, at least u go on the hook willingly. hehe