LAST week, our coordinating minister for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Khairy Jamaluddin scolded developed nations for the extremely immoral practice (his words not mine) of hoarding vaccine supplies.
Some in the Healthcare fraternity would say, “Physician, heal thyself”.
While Khairy, who has been at the forefront of the vaccine roll-out, is doing a commendable job as the face of the national programme, the administration he represents, unfortunately, needs a scolding themselves.
This is because the government has been using protectionist policies to prevent the private sector from obtaining vaccines.
In patient safety, we use the parlance, “preventable deaths” and “zero harm”. This is used as the first tenet of the Hippocratic Oath: Primum Non Nocere or “first, do no harm”. Note the word “first” in the slogan.
It is what all healthcare professionals cite in their oaths. As patient advocates, we can only hope they remember this.
This principle helps guide them in their daily work, which is saving lives and ensuring the well-being of their fellow man.
I don’t blame Khairy if he does not know this as he isn’t a healthcare professional. However, in the course of his duties and the immensely huge responsibility that he now holds of saving the lives and the livelihoods of the rakyat, he should do well to get acquainted with this philosophy.
The fact that this government is receiving brickbats from a desperate population where only just more than 7% are fully vaccinated shows that, despite efforts being sped up, more must be done.
Teachers, essential workers and even my colleagues have been promised vaccinations. However, many continue to gaze longingly at their MySejahtera daily in hope that they, too, can be safe from this frightening pandemic that looks like it may be reclassified as an endemic.
The private sector has always been the experts at logistics and procurement. The fact that the initial roll-out plan excluded it from participating in the procurement of vaccines begs the question if protectionist policies favouring a certain group contributed to the initial slow vaccination rate.
Companies are only now being allowed to inoculate their staff. Yet, the bureaucracy is still stifling this action plan as approvals are still taking time.
If the private sector is allowed to participate as an open market system with the necessary fast-track approvals from the Health Ministry, the International Trade and Industry Ministry and supporting agencies, surely, the vaccination rate will be more encouraging.
A strategic plan will result in a successful deployment to thousands of essential businesses that can remain open, keeping the economy buoyant and helping to achieve the 80% herd immunity target.
A tax incentive to inoculate employees is the carrot that can be used to encourage mass vaccination.
It is time for the government to engage and look at different ways of deploying this vaccine. Time to think out of the box.
There are many ways to reach the masses. Decentralising the deployment is key to thinking out of the box. Structures, proper planning and ideas are available from the best minds in the corporate world.
It’s time now to talk about how many have been vaccinated rather than how many are stricken with Covid-19.
Khairy aims to have 60% of the country vaccinated by September, and June 24 stats reveal that about 15.1% have had one dose and 5.8% have received two doses. With a little more than 16 million registered thus far, we have some way to go. We need to educate and register in tandem with vaccinations so that we reach our goals. Together, we can do it. What say you, government? – The Vibes, July 3, 2021
Manvir Victor is executive editor at The Vibes, and Patient for Patients Safety Malaysia chairman
