Gov't flip-flop on Covid-19 policies causing confusion - MMA
The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has raised concerns that Putrajaya's flip-flop in policies related to Covid-19 is causing confusion to employers, employees and also general practitioners (GP).
Its president, N Ganabaskaran, said the MMA has always been supportive of the government's efforts in healthcare and believes it is doing well in the fight against Covid-19 but said flip-flopping as the country reopened the economy had caused concerns....
The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has raised concerns that Putrajaya's flip-flop in policies related to Covid-19 is causing confusion to employers, employees and also general practitioners (GP).
Its president, N Ganabaskaran, said the MMA has always been supportive of the government's efforts in healthcare and believes it is doing well in the fight against Covid-19 but said flip-flopping as the country reopened the economy had caused concerns.
"Recently, a flip flop in policies with no clear-cut guidelines on the testing of the workforce before businesses resume operations under the conditional movement control order (MCO) has left business owners, employees and even the GPs confused and frustrated," he said in a statement.
As an example, he said, was the Social Security Organisation (Socso) initially rolling out a testing programme for workers based on antibody rapid test kits (RTK) only to later switch to the Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests.
"Even four days ago during the meeting with Socso's top management, we were told that the screening of workers would be initiated for them through the GP clinics on Socso's Health Screening Programme (HSP) panel.
"Now we have been informed that under the Socso screening programme, only the RT-PCR method will be used," he said.
He said the MMA has advised GPs not to perform antibody RTK tests without clear guidelines by the Health Ministry on the usage, infection prevention, control protocols and quarantine criteria.
"Adding further to the confusion concerning the testing of workers, was the announcement by the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) two days ago that companies may resume business operations from May 4 without an approval letter from Miti and that Covid-19 screening of workers is not mandatory.
"This, as opposed to its earlier announcement for a requirement to screen all workers.
"Stakeholders are confused now as to why the screenings were needed at first and no longer needed now; feeling unsafe knowing that the threat of Covid-19 is still very much around," said Ganabaskaran.
He also urged the government to be clear on its policy of screening foreign workers.
"We wish to appeal to the government for more clarity and proper guidelines for the smooth implementation of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) as many are in the dark over the next steps to be taken. Proper coordination between ministries is also needed.
"We believe this confusion concerning the testing of workers would not have happened if the announcement to test workers was made after receiving the guidelines from the Health Ministry.
"Healthcare is highly regulated. Guidelines must be in place before the announcement of such an extensive programme," he said.
