KUALA LUMPUR – Technical decisions on health crises should come only from the health director-general, something that current post holder Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has failed to deliver on as Malaysia continues its struggle with Covid-19.
Former health DG Tan Sri Dr Mohamed Ismail Merican said it is perplexing that Dr Noor Hisham has allowed several controversial decisions despite infections soaring to record highs.
These include allowing Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations and the opening of Ramadan bazaars – albeit under strict restrictions – earlier this year.
When I was health DG, whatever I said goes, because even the prime minister supported what I said. Now, the DG is like a toothless tiger, nobody is listening to him,” he told a webinar hosted by veteran journalist Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai last night.
“He can bang the table all he likes, but if you are not being listened to, it means you have not lived up to your expectations. If I were the DG, I would have said no. What are these Raya celebrations and all? No need.
“I would give my reasons, of course, and listen to the views of others. I wouldn’t just bulldoze; we must be diplomatic. But it would be my decision (to make).”
As one of the most important posts in the Health Ministry, he said, the DG should be firm with decisions deemed necessary to keep cases under control, amid speculation that Dr Noor Hisham is being pressured by politicians to do otherwise.
With health workers experiencing burnout, it would do good for Dr Noor Hisham “not to just stay in Putrajaya”, and instead, visit staff on the ground and offer them support, said Dr Ismail.
Dr Ismail retired from public service in 2011 after 35 years in the field. Among his achievements was overseeing the country’s management of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003.
Asked how a decision can be made amid interference from politicians, the former Malaysian Medical Council president said: “I literally told them to shut up (from making public comments).”
He said it is also best to have only one spokesman representing the government when making announcements and providing explanations, provided that this individual first consults the relevant stakeholders.
Technical matters concerning Covid-19 handling should be left to the DG, he said, and the health minister should be the sole spokesman when it comes to policy decisions.
Commenting publicly on the pandemic for the first time, Dr Ismail said he felt compelled to finally speak out after seeing the government’s mishandling of the health crisis more than a year since the outbreak.
He said among the things that can be improved are coordination and collaboration with other entities, roping in resources from the private sector, ramping up testing, and identifying and locking down only high-risk areas.
He urged Putrajaya to regulate the cost of the more reliable RT-PCR test, saying he has heard many stories of low-income folk preferring to live with the virus – and possibly infecting others – than get tested.
Dr Ismail slammed the Perikatan Nasional administration over its refusal to admit weaknesses and failures in its pandemic strategy, and stressed the need for support from all of society.
Have you ever heard any minister asking for help? No. To me, the whole nation must come together and provide input… You cannot give the impression that everything is hunky-dory. This is a crisis.”
Dismissing suggestions that the public healthcare system has failed, he said those in the service have done their best to handle the situation, but given the overwhelming infections, support from the private sector is much needed. – The Vibes, July 17, 2021
