KUALA LUMPUR – More than 800 front-line healthcare workers have been vaccinated since March 1 at two private hospitals, namely Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur and KPJ Tawakkal, under a collaboration with the Federal Territory Health Department.
Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh, in a statement, said this proves that private healthcare facilities have the capability to run the Covid-19 inoculation programme for the public.
“We truly feel this is an excellent public-private partnership that will see increased vaccination numbers in the subsequent weeks, in order to complete Phase 1 by the end of this month.
“All the frontliners who have received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine had their listing determined by the Federal Territory Health Department, and the vaccinators were the staff of different private hospitals in the state.
“This exercise proves that private healthcare has the capability to run the Covid-19 vaccination programme.”
He said APHM is in the midst of talks with the Selangor Health Department on a similar programme that is expected to begin at three or more private hospitals in the state next week.
Dr Kuljit is making similar arrangements in Perak, with the association discussing with the authorities on whether private hospitals can administer the coronavirus vaccine to the public.
Earlier, he told The Vibes that in the event these hospitals are allowed to procure the vaccine, it will be administered at the cost of procurement.
A total of 146 private hospitals are APHM members, while 64 are not.
Dr Kuljit said the government needs to understand that the aim of private hospitals in the current scenario is to partner with it on distributing the vaccine as soon as possible. – The Vibes, March 8, 2021
