Columbia Asia Hospital Bukit Rimau Offers Employees Paid Day Off to Attend Cancer Screenings

Columbia Asia Hospital – Bukit Rimau is setting an example with their latest efforts launched in conjunction with the opening of their first cancer centre. In July, the hospital empowered its staff with the ClockOut2CheckUp campaign, offering a paid day off to any employee willing to attend a cancer screening provided by the hospital. A total of 275 employees rose to the occasion and answered the call to participate in this initiative.

Each of the employees was given a basic health screening and tumour marker test. The hospital is committed to its efforts to educate the public that the battle against cancer begins, not at diagnosis, but at prevention and early detection.

Employees at Columbia Asia Hospital – Bukit Rimau waiting for their turns to get screened

The sooner cancer is detected, the higher the chances of recovery.

This campaign aims to start a wave that begins at the hospital but continues to ripple throughout the community and change the way Malaysians think about cancer.

“The ClockOut2CheckUp campaign is our way of giving back to our community of care. From our nursing teams to the administrative staff, we offered everyone the opportunity to take their health into their hands. We want to be a catalyst for change,” said Ms Lee Hui Chuen, Columbia Asia Regional General Manager of Columbia Asia hospitals (Bukit Rimau, Petaling Jaya and Seremban). “We see the research of how crucial regular cancer screenings are to early detection and we want to do our part to raise awareness and improve access to these procedures. With our new cancer centre, we will walk alongside our patients, providing them with the highest quality of care possible as well as the resources they need.”

“It’s common for patients to self-evaluate their health and find, because there is nothing evidently out of place, that they are perfectly healthy and exempted from needing to opt-in for regular health screenings,” said Dr. Kananathan Ratnavelu, Consultant Medical Oncologist.

“Unfortunately, there’s no way to know you have a clean bill of health unless you go for those screenings.”

Employees at Columbia Asia Hospital – Bukit Rimau having tumour marker profile screening done via a blood test

“A tumour marker screening done via a blood test is a simple, non-invasive first step that patients can take, that can offer a glimpse into their risks of developing cancer. It’s so important that the healthcare industry does more, to make the public comfortable, with the idea of routine screenings.”

On 11 September 2022, the Minister of Health, Khairy Jamaluddin, urged employers in both the private and public sectors to strongly consider giving their employees a paid day off for them to keep up to date on their routine health screenings. He asserted that many employees don’t have the luxury of choosing to go for screenings during the weekend because of existing responsibilities. This should encourage employers to take up the responsibility to push for change.

Columbia Asia Hospital recognizes its responsibility as both a healthcare provider and employer, choosing to spearhead the ClockOut2CheckUp initiative. The 275 Columbia Asia Hospital employees who stepped forward for screenings were rewarded not only with a bigger picture of understanding their health, but also a paid day off.

“I’ve been in the healthcare industry for over 12 years, but this is the first time I’ve chosen to go for a voluntary screening like this,” said Nuzul Fatihah Mohd Diah, Personal Care Assistant at Columbia Asia Hospital – Bukit Rimau.

Nuzul Fatihah Mohd Diah, Personal Care Assistant at Columbia Asia Hospital – Bukit Rimau

“It’s usually the fear of a bad result that has kept me from volunteering for a test like this, but I have been encouraged by seeing my colleagues step forward. I’ve always used the excuse that I didn’t have time, but I can’t say that anymore!”

The new Cancer Center at Columbia Asia Hospital – Bukit Rimau will officially launch on 29th September 2022 alongside initiatives the public can look forward to.

For more news and information about Columbia Asia Hospitals, visit www.columbiaasia.com.

Also read: Health Ministry is Proposing an Additional Leave for Employees to Undergo Health Screenings