Malaysia's Ministry of Health (MOH) is examining a digital medical certificate (e-MC) system to curb forgery, abuse, and identity theft linked to fake sick leave certificates produced by criminal syndicates [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The MOH's Digital Health Division has been tasked to accelerate the study on moving to a secure digital platform for issuing medical certificates [2, 5].
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said medical certificates "can only be issued by a doctor or medical officer treating the patient. That is clear. This ethical misconduct is a serious issue and the MOH will not compromise on it under any circumstances" [2]. He cautioned against self-diagnosis using artificial intelligence, especially for chronic illnesses, emphasizing that patient safety and clinical accuracy must be priorities [2, 5].
A criminal case involving five individuals, including a nurse from Pekan, Pahang, has emerged over the sale and purchase of suspected fake MCs [2, 5]. The "Holiday Master" syndicate has forged doctors' names and private clinics since 2016, forging medical certificates for illicit gain [2, 5]. The Malaysian Medical Council is leading the probe, working closely with law enforcement. It targets the syndicate's misuse of practitioners' professional registration numbers [2, 5].
The proposed e-MC system would digitize medical certificates, making them harder to forge and easier to verify [3, 4]. The Malaysian Medical Association supports the e-MC, calling for an integrated digital healthcare ecosystem to enable secure verification and appropriate information sharing beyond certificates. Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo said such a system "could improve continuity of care, administrative efficiency and the overall patient experience" [3].
Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo added the platform "should strictly confirm the authenticity of the MC as a legal document without disclosing diagnoses or other private details. Employers may verify if an MC is genuine, but patients retain the right to confidentiality regarding their condition" [3].
The Malaysian Employers Federation backed the e-MC, saying it could reduce fake MCs, speed verification, lower administrative burdens, and strengthen trust among employers, employees, and doctors [4]. It recommended a secure centralized system where registered practitioners issue e-MCs embedded with unique reference numbers or QR codes, allowing employers to verify authenticity without accessing confidential health data [4].
Countries including Singapore, Australia, Sweden, Nordic countries, and the UK have implemented electronic medical certificate systems, according to MEF [4]. Implementation in Malaysia will require investments in infrastructure, cybersecurity, training, and maintenance with patient confidentiality as a top priority [3, 4].
Dr Dzulkefly urged anyone with health issues to seek prompt consultation with medical professionals across public and private sectors, including GP clinics and hospitals, advising "Do not bear the burden alone" [2].
At a press conference on June 21, 2026, Dr Dzulkefly announced MOH is fast-tracking the e-MC study to address the rising problem of fake medical certificates [2, 5]. The investigation into the five suspects linked to fake MC sales remains ongoing.
