The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has questioned the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force's (CITF) justification for dropping general practitioners (GPs) in the Klang Valley from the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP).
The CITF previously said suggestions that the GPs were "dropped" were inaccurate as the doctors may be re-engaged in the future when there are recommendations for booster shots or a Covid-19 vaccination programme for those aged under 18.
However, MMA president Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said GPs in Selangor were not informed of this when they were abruptly released from the programme.
He said the CITF did not explain why GPs are being let go from the NIP even if they were to procure Covid-19 vaccines from the private market.
"Many Malaysians are still scratching their heads over why they can't take a five-minute walk to their private GP clinic down the road to get vaccinated.
"These are very difficult times and the cost of travelling can be a burden for some. The CITF could help by giving the people what they have been wanting all this while by making the vaccines available at all private GP clinics nationwide," said Subramaniam.
The CITF is scaling back the number of Covid-19 vaccination centres in the Klang Valley as a substantial number of the population in the region has been vaccinated and demand is expected to decline.
Previously, the government supplied the Covid-19 vaccines to various vaccination centres including GPs to be administered to the public.
However, the GPs argue that even if the government no longer needed their services at present, they should still be allowed to administer Covid-19 vaccines which are procured from the private market.
Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had said the move to drop GPs in the Klang Valley from the vaccination programme was "contrary" to his recommendation.
CITF told to consult health experts
The CITF falls under the jurisdiction of the Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry (Mosti).
"The Health director-general had proposed that GP participation in the NIP under ProtectHealth be increased but we see a very half-hearted response from the CITF.
"Is CITF taking advice from the Health Ministry or is it acting independently? Many Malaysians are still wondering why the NIP is a programme under Mosti when it should be led by the Health Ministry.
"Perhaps it is time Mosti or the Health Ministry explain this because the CITF seems to be clueless when it comes to healthcare," Subramaniam said.
"It is obvious the CITF are not the experts but they are running the show for vaccinations. Even if they insist it should be them, they should at least consult the experts," he added.
He also disputed CITF's claim that 107.7 percent of the adult population in the Klang Valley has been vaccinated.
The over 100 percent number is because the data is based on the 2010 census. As such, the data excludes population growth for the last 11 years and also undocumented migrants.
"There are still many in the Klang Valley who haven't even registered for the vaccine and this includes the high undocumented migrant population. How did the CITF arrive at this figure? We would welcome an explanation from them," he said.
APHM wants more vaccines approved
Meanwhile, the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) said even though a total of seven Covid-19 vaccines have been approved in the country, private parties are only allowed to procure two of them.
Its president Dr Kuljit Singh said the private sector is only allowed to procure Sinovac and Moderna, limiting the availability of vaccines in the private market.
"Only two brands are allowed for private purchase. We hope more will be allowed in future," he told Malaysiakini.
The government has already secured enough Covid-19 vaccines to cover 130 percent of the country's population, although this does not factor in the possibility of booster shots in the future.
The remaining doses used by the government are primarily from Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca. - Mkini
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