KUALA LUMPUR – The latest relief package announced by the government during the movement control order (MCO) comes as a huge relief to health frontliners much overwhelmed by the country’s Covid-19 situation, key industry players said today.
They said the recruitment of thousands of new personnel, in particular, is welcomed, as the public healthcare system struggles to deal with infections hitting four digits daily.
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Prof Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy said the hiring of new health staff will ease the strain on medical practitioners currently working on little to no rest.
“We are facing a huge manpower issues. If you look at the most pertinent problem we are facing today, it’s mostly the shortage of resources and facilities,” he told The Vibes today.
“Yes, the government can now utilise some private facilities and resources under the emergency ordinance, but more personnel are still needed to battle this pandemic, either in permanent posts or on contract.
“This announcement is great news. We have been asking (for this) for a long time and so, the news comes as a great relief to all frontliners.”
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had earlier today announced the RM15 billion Perlindungan Ekonomi dan Rakyat Malaysia (Permai) relief package, of which RM800 million will be allocated to the Health Ministry.
Among other things, he said the government will hire 3,500 new health personnel by the end of this month to assist health facilities, in addition to 8,000 people recruited last year.
Subramaniam said he hopes that the distribution of personnel and funds will be done swiftly and fairly to ensure an immediate positive impact.
Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara's emergency services head Dr Mohamed Al-Hadi Mohamed Razhi, meanwhile, said the government’s announcement will provide major relief for the health fraternity currently working at maximum capacity.
He said that health frontliners in both the public and private sectors are already physically and mentally strained in dealing with the high number of infections of late.
“Our intensive care units (ICUs) are on the brink, and we are working more than we ever did,” he said.
“Even in the private sector, we are hiring more staff following the government’s move to utilise our facilities and resources. So, we certainly need manpower to help manage patients.”
Al-Hadi added that, although frontliners are not highlighted now as much as they were in the initial stages of the pandemic, they are being challenged more than ever.
“Frontliners were given all the attention then and not so much now, but what we are facing today is far worse compared with the first wave. We have to work even more and this is the true situation.” – The Vibes, January 18, 2021
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