KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 4): The ECM Libra Foundation and CVSKL Foundation have teamed up to provide affordable health screenings for serving and former journalists struggling to afford medical care.

The initiative is made possible by a personal RM1 million contribution from ECM Libra Foundation co-founder Datuk Seri Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan to complement a CVSKL programme providing discounted health screening for journalists.

The initiative became operational on Nov 1 and is expected to benefit up to 400 journalists aged 50 and above, particularly those without medical insurance, as the changing media landscape upends employment prospects and financial security within the profession.

For some former journalists who retired after decades in the newsroom, affording medical treatment is a challenge as employer healthcare benefits are no longer available.

It is a predicament Kalimullah, who is a former journalist, has witnessed over the past 10 to 15 years as former colleagues struggle to treat health problems due to insufficient funds. 

One former editor needed a heart procedure but could not afford private healthcare. After being given an appointment several months away at a public hospital, he eventually underwent the procedure at CVSKL. 

In another instance, an appeal for medical assistance circulated across several chat groups, drawing unwanted attention to the journalist's financial difficulties. The funds for his surgery were eventually raised by other media personnel.

These experiences prompted Kalimullah to approach CVSKL Foundation chairman Tan Sri Rashpal Singh Randhay about four to five months ago to discuss setting up an initiative that would allow journalists to get affordable healthcare without seeking help from others.

"Journalists are very proud people," Kalimullah told The Edge in an interview. 

"So, that way they don't have to be embarrassed, they avail themselves of the best treatment because CVSKL has got some of the best specialists in the country."

Developed in collaboration with the Malaysian Media Council (MMC), the initiative was soft-launched by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil on Oct 31.

The RM1 million donated by Kalimullah will fully cover the cost a CVSKL medical screening package usually priced between RM4,800 and RM5,200. The screenings include cardiovascular assessments, diabetes and kidney function tests, cancer markers and mammograms for women. 

To be eligible, the journalist must be 50 and above with at least five years in the profession, and have a household income of not exceeding RM8,000. 

Applications are coordinated through the MMC, chaired by Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan.

Beyond the screening, Rashpal told The Edge that beneficiaries found to have medical conditions may be referred to specialists, or other hospitals and charitable organisations for further assistance.

"We can also refer them to the respective hospitals or wherever they are. We can advise them," he said. 

The initiative comes at a time of belt-tightening throughout the Malaysia media landscape, as newsrooms shrink due to narrowing revenue streams.
 
Kalimullah, who began his journalism career in 1979, recalled that journalists retiring from established newspapers could continue earning an income through contract positions, particularly as sub-editors, well into their 60s.

Those opportunities are now harder to come by, he observed, while older journalists may struggle to find employment in an increasingly digital industry.

"Never in my wildest dreams when I started journalism in 1979 did I think that there would come a day when journalists complained that they don't get paid, their EPF is not paid, they have to go to court," he said.

Though Kalimullah has ventured into the corporate world, he maintains close ties with the journalism profession. 

While the initial allocation will support hundreds of senior journalists, the programme's sustainability is uncertain.

Kalimullah suggested that media organisations pool their resources for a common healthcare fund for the industry.

Rashpal said he hopes to expand the initiative through partnerships with other hospitals and charitable organisations, and suggested tax incentives to encourage companies to contribute towards employee welfare.

At the launch, Fahmi indicated plans to encourage further contributions to the fund in conjunction with next year's National Journalists' Day celebrations.

For now, the initiative will run until the initial allocation is exhausted.