LETTER | Yesterday, the Kuala Lumpur police chief said that there will be no addition to the existing 13 roadblocks in Kuala Lumpur but stringent checks will be performed following the tightening of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Today, I was saddened to learn of the difficulties faced by patients and healthcare staff during their trips to the hospital or clinic - such as patients being asked incessant questions from officers manning the roadblocks despite showing their appointment card/letter and private healthcare staff with no ties to the Health Ministry being asked to show a travel letter issued by the ministry.

One year ago we could not conceive how monumental this pandemic would be. The increasing number of Covid-19 cases and the death toll has forced the entire healthcare system to work tirelessly round the clock to ensure sufficient care delivery to Covid and non-Covid patients.

Cancer is one of the few non-Covid medical conditions that affects all walks of life requiring frequent hospital visits and multiple treatment types with some that shouldn’t be delayed. True enough, cancer health services have never stopped in the past 15 months.

Many still come forward to seek care and brave the inter-state and inter-district travel restrictions to avoid disruptions that may result in costly health implications. They understand that with cancer, staying on top is the key.

It is obvious that it would be perilous to impose unjustified restrictions on these patients making regular trips to the hospital. 

They already experience a heightened sense of vulnerability and have the additional worry of contacting the infection when visiting health facilities, on top of the existing fear of treatment side effects and cancer recurrence.

Meanwhile, healthcare workers, irrespective of either doing administrative or clinical duties, are also risking their lives providing services to these patients daily.

I acknowledge that police officers are merely carrying out instructions, however, I appeal that our men in blue act uniformly in allowing or assisting patients and their carers to pass through roadblocks with ease or without any interruptions when they use public transport when travelling to the healthcare facility for their treatment.

And that this gesture be extended to all healthcare workers from both government and private sector when travelling daily to their workplace.

Bersatu kita teguh, bercerai kita roboh. Let’s fight the infection together.

The writer is a consultant oncologist.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.