KUALA LUMPUR – The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has called on the government to offer amnesty so elderly residents in unlicensed old folks’ homes can be vaccinated immediately.
CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader expressed shock that out of the 1,300 unlicensed facilities, only about 100 of them have their staff and residents registered for vaccination, constituting a mere 8% of the total.
“Such a situation is a disaster in the making. In dire times like these, the government should grant amnesty to unlicensed old folks’ homes for every employee and resident (to have) access to Covid-19 vaccination. The registered ones are licensed by various authorities, such as local governments,” he said in a statement today.
The Vibes had reported on May 18 that the plan to inoculate the elderly and vulnerable in Phase 2 of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme has hit a hurdle, after unlicensed nursing homes were found to have not registered their staff and dependents for vaccination.
The report quoted Association for Residential Aged Care Operators of Malaysia (Agecope) president Delren Douglas as saying that the problem can be solved if there is less red tape in providing licences to old folks’ homes.
There are currently 12 government-run centres, known as Rumah Seri Kenangan, and 365 licensed private centres, as well as 1,300 unlicensed facilities.
Douglas had said only some 100 unlicensed homes have had their staff and residents registered for vaccination.
Malaysia, Mohideen said, should learn from the experiences of nursing homes ravaged by Covid-19 in the United States, resulting in the loss of lives of more than 28,000 residents and staff between late February and early May 2020 – a period of about two months – which made up about 30% of the country’s Covid-19 deaths.
“The government should not let that happen in Malaysia because Covid-19 is going to rage through this vulnerable segment of the population,” he said.
“Hence, the government should prioritise its agenda in vaccinating all staff and residents of old folks’ homes without penalising an unlicensed facility.
“Any licensing problems can be addressed amicably after the pandemic,” he said.
Streamline licensing process
Mohideen said the government should identify the reasons they have not been licensed and help them get it done after the pandemic.
“The government should also facilitate and streamline the licensing process so it is easier for the authorities to monitor the healthcare of the residents and render assistance whenever needed.
“It is important for the government to allay any distrust these unlicensed facilities have pertaining to possible actions that can be taken against them after the pandemic,” he said.
Such distrust, he warned, will subsequently work against the government’s objectives of protecting the elderly population’s welfare.
He added that Agecope’s revelation that there are 365 licensed private centres and 1,300 unlicensed facilities nationwide means that there are close to four unlicensed facilities to every registered one.
“We reiterate our call to the government to reach out to the unregistered old folks’ homes, offering them amnesty during the pandemic to encourage them to come forward to have their staff and residents vaccinated,” Mohideen said.
“Moreover, compassion and empathy for fellow human beings are hallmarks of successful law enforcement,” he added.
Douglas had shared with The Vibes his suggestion for an amnesty of one or two years for the unlicensed homes.
This followed a viral video message by Agecope secretary Muntoh Fong, who claimed that seniors appear to be sidelined in the vaccination effort, while appointments are given to non-frontliners.
The matter has since caught the attention of Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.
They have since met with Douglas to rectify the issue of the number of vaccine doses reserved for old folks’ home residents and staff, with the dates of the inoculation to be revealed later.
The Vibes is attempting to reach out to the Women, Family and Community Ministry for a response regarding the situation. – The Vibes, May 21, 2021
