The Health Ministry views seriously the currently widespread online selling of fake medical certificates.

Its director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the activity must be curbed as, among others, it caused negative impact on national productivity and the law.

He said the ministry was disappointed many took the issue lightly and advertised their sales online.

"The document can only be issued by a registered medical and dental practitioner, after a patient has undergone a health check at a private or public medical facility.

"A medical certificate can only be issued by a registered medical practitioner under Section 27, Medical Act 1971 (Act 150), or a registered dental practitioner under Section 26 (Dental Act 1971 (Act 51)," he said in a statement Wednesday.

As such, he said the public must steer clear of using fake medical certificates as they, specifically government servants, could be sacked.

In this regard, he said employers or department heads should reject fake medical certificates.

Noor Hisham said those who doubted the status of a medical certificate or were aware of fake medical certificate sale activities, online or direct transactions, should lodge a police report.

Registered medical and dental practitioners could lodge complaints concerning the sale of fake medical certificates with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) or Malaysian Dental Council (MDC), he said.

He said complaints on sales of fake medical certificates by private clinics or hospitals could be made via e-mail at [email protected].