KUCHING: The federal government has been urged to use the Emergency Ordinance (EO) responsibly, and not as a means to bully or twist the arm of the private healthcare sector in order to use its resources.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Prof Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said the EO should be used for a collaborative approach in finding and hastening solutions by cutting red tape and removing regulatory burdens for seamless implementation.
“For the record, the private healthcare sector has been consistently offering their services in the battle against Covid-19 from the very start of the pandemic,” he said in response to Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s remarks on Friday (Jan 15).
Dr Subramaniam said it must also be noted that most of the private hospitals were owned by government-linked companies (GLC) in which the government, as a shareholder, was a beneficiary of its profits and dividends.
“The government should stop playing big brother after not being able to contain the pandemic but should instead start listening to feedback from the ground and regard private healthcare as its key partner.”
He said the government should provide clear guidelines and direction in policies for the private healthcare sector instead of threatening to fine private hospitals that did not cooperate in managing the pandemic.
“It should also take time to understand the private healthcare ecosystem before deciding on any policies. Desktop analysis policies will more than likely result in challenges during implementation, lead to failure and waste of resources.
“Threats and bullying is not the way to go and it will most certainly not gain the respect of the people.
“The government should instead go back to the drawing board and for the sake of our beloved country and the people, truly implement a whole of society and whole of government approach.”
Dr Subramaniam also added that the 7,000 Ministry of Health (MoH) trained general practitioners (GP) were sidelined from the start of the pandemic and throughout most of last year in the fight against Covid-19.
“MMA has been regularly advising the government on the important role of GPs in this pandemic. And it is hoped the GPs will be roped in more effectiveIy and be involved in the policy making in managing this pandemic in primary care.”
Previously, he said, many GPs were reluctant to see upper respiratory infections for fear of closure of their clinics and vague quarantine criteria from MoH.
“MMA’s numerous letters to the Health Ministry and meetings with government officials seem to have fallen on deaf ears.”
It was reported on Jan 14, Ismail Sabri said the EO would give authorities more power to manage the pandemic, and this included directing private hospitals to take in Covid-19 patients.
