Govt must explain why GPs taken out of NIP, say doctors' groups

 

The Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) has urged the Health Ministry to explain its rationale behind stopping general practitioners (GPs) from administering Covid-19 vaccines under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP).

FPMPAM president Dr Steven Chow said it is questionable how the move would benefit the people when it was the original intention of the government to co-opt GPs into the NIP for efficiency and public convenience.

“Furthermore, patients who opt for self-paying vaccination with their GPs will not be allowed to update their vaccination status via the usual updating in MySejahtera.

“Instead they will have to access the system indirectly via a separate platform set up by the pharmaceutical supplier,” said Chow in a statement.

“It must be remembered that MySejahtera was set up with public money for public health purposes and all taxpayers should have a right to use it accordingly,” he added.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Subramaniam Muniandy urged the ministry to continue working with GPs to vaccinate the Klang Valley.

Yesterday, health news website CodeBlue reported that the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) had decided to no longer involve GPs, private hospitals, ambulatory care centres and private PPVs in the NIP.

Subramaniam confirmed that ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd, a Health Ministry GLC, had only recently informed GPs about the sudden decision.

He said this was a misstep.

“The CITF should be increasing and not limiting the involvement of private GPs in this phase of the NIP.

“We are puzzled as to why the CITF recently decided to stop vaccination appointments at 741 private GP clinics, several private hospitals and ambulatory care centres in Selangor. These healthcare facilities were given only 48 hours’ notice by the CITF [...]

“Such policies of ‘using when needed and dumping when not needed’ will not augur well and discourage other GPs from participating,” he said in a statement.

This was especially when the government was planning to begin vaccinating teenagers from the middle of next month.

Subramaniam said GPs may also be needed if and when the government decides to administer booster vaccine shots.

“Going forward, it is hoped there will be increased engagement from the CITF,” he said.

In Selangor, Klang MP Charles Santiago earlier today said he believes it is too soon for the government to close 29 vaccine administration centres (PPVs) across nine districts in the state.

In Klang alone, Charles calculated that some 35 percent (453,318) of his 1.3 million constituents had yet to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

This, he said, contradicted the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry’s basis for the PPV closures - that “90 percent” of people in the state were already vaccinated.

Malaysiakini has contacted Mosti and CITF for comments on the GPs situation and PPV shutdowns. - Mkini