TRAVELLERS to Malaysia can now pre-book their professional RTK-Antigen tests at private clinics to reduce congestion at the airport, Kooperasi Persatuan Perubatan Malaysia (Koop MMA) said. 

Its president, Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo, said some 2,000 private clinics are participating in the programme.

“Pre-booking of professional RTK-Ag testing service is now available online for international travellers.

“The professional RTK-Ag testing service at participating clinics via online pre-booking is priced at RM70 per test,” he said in a statement today.

Thirunavukarasu said the initiative is carried out via a programme by Koop MMA and eMedAsia.com, its digital platform provider.

Koop MMA is a cooperative by members of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).

He welcomed the decision by the Health Ministry to make professional RTK-Ag tests a requirement for travellers entering Malaysia and added that professional RTK-Ag tests conducted by trained medical personnel will ensure higher accuracy in testing. He said this was vital to prevent import cases of infections from abroad as the country has now reopened its border to international travellers.

“Our tourism sector, which was one of the sectors most affected by the pandemic, needs to be safeguarded against disruptions.

“We need to ensure preventive measures at the highest level are in place for all visitors to our country and the population, for a smooth transition to endemicity.

“We foresee that testing at the airport upon arrival may hold up travellers and cause congestion. This can be an unpleasant experience for international visitors and it may even lead to new Covid-19 clusters just when we are reviving our nation’s tourism.

“By pre-booking the professional RTK-Ag testing service, travellers can collect their luggage, head to their hotels, freshen up and come out to the clinic to get themselves tested,” he said.

Thirunavukarasu said that Koop MMA was also looking at providing mobile professional testing, where the service is sent to the traveller.

Starting yesterday, all inbound travellers will be given a Travellers Card on their MySejahtera mobile app and within 24 hours upon arrival, are required to get a professional RTK-Ag test done at any of the appointed private or government clinics which utilise the eCovid system – Malaysia’s Covid-19 outbreak management system.

The Travellers Card will be removed when the traveller tests negative and the result is updated on their MySejahtera app. 

However, if a fully vaccinated traveller fails to get a professional RTK-Ag test done within 24 hours, they will be issued with a Home Surveillance Order for five days via MySejahtera.

All test results updated in the eCovid or MyVas system will be reflected in MySejahtera within 10 minutes.

A traveller can only leave the private healthcare facility once the Travellers Card is removed and their MySejahtera app is updated with the test result. – April 2, 2022.