VACCINATION of private healthcare workers on the frontlines is progressing at an uneven pace, with some hospital staff still waiting for their Covid-19 jabs near the end of phase one of the national immunisation programme, the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) said.

“We are very concerned that the number of selected private hospitals are few and the vaccination process is not consistent throughout in the country,” said its president Dr Kuljit Singh.

“Some states like Malacca have not commenced vaccination for private hospital doctors and staff (who will only get the jabs) towards the end of the month or in phase two.” 

He pointed out that “some of the private hospitals in this state are big economic contributors” in terms of medical tourism.

“We hope the vaccination programme can be enhanced in some of these states, including (those on) the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. Some smaller towns in Sarawak have also been left out of phase one vaccination,” he said in a statement.

Malaysia began the national coronavirus immunisation drive on February 24.

The first phase will see the inoculation of healthcare and security personnel on the frontlines.

The second phase from April to August will see to the vaccination of high risk groups such as the elderly.

APHM said it hoped that more private healthcare facilities and practitioners would be allowed to participate in the vaccination drive in the remaining phases.

Vaccination mostly takes place at government healthcare facilities with only two private hospitals in Kuala Lumpur involved in administering the shots to frontliners.

Talks are ongoing between APHM and the government for private facilities to serve as vaccination centres.

APHM also wants the government to allow private hospitals to procure and administer the vaccines.

It again urged the government to consider allowing private vaccination programmes for those who can afford to pay to speed up immunisation of the population.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has maintained that vaccination shall remain free for the people.

More than 300,000 people have received the shots since February 24. – March 18, 2021.