HEALTH Ministry (MOH) has yet to change its strategy in managing the Covid-19 epidemic in Malaysia. We have previously outlined the tactical needs of disease prevention. This includes aggressive active case detection and building up resources and treatment capabilities for stage 4 and 5 cases. One other critical aspect that we have not touched is vaccination.

In 100 days, America has vaccinated 200 million of its population. It does not restrict any inbound international travellers. Inbound passengers are subjected to basic screening and offered free vaccination. Their government uses all available medical facilities including pharmacy to dish out Moderna, AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines.

Singapore has vaccinated 55% of its population. The Thais have vaccinated 1.5% of their population (at least two million). Indonesia has vaccinated 3.25% (at least 8.7 million) of its population. As of May 11, about 2.2% of Malaysia’s 32.7 million population have been fully vaccinated. Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has attributed the slow rate of vaccination due to competing global demands. This is unlikely the only reason.

Malaysia’s non-transparent procurement process is a factor. Procurement under the veil of secrecy of direct negotiation is another factor.

The approval process and logistic support issue contribute to the delay of vaccine availability. As per Health Minister Dr Adham Baba’s statement, it takes at least 23 days for National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) to evaluate and give approval for any vaccine to be used on an emergency basis in Malaysia. 

The whole wide world issues Covid-19 vaccine currently under emergency approval basis. It doesn’t seem like the country in critical mode since we need to take 23 days for NPRA to approve any vaccines. 

As of a few days ago, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has listed the Pfizer/BioNTech, Astrazeneca-SK Bio, Serum Institute of India, Janssen, Moderna, and Sinopharm vaccines for emergency use.  Despite this only Sinovac, AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines have been approved for use in Malaysia.

Why do we need to go through NPRA? Why can’t the Emergency law imposed in Malaysia be used to bypass the NPRA process? MOH director-general always speaks highly of WHO, it raises questions why we can’t take WHO word for it.

NPRA only evaluate data and research given by the manufacturer and those published report globally (meta-analysis). They don’t do any clinical trials themselves. NPRA has not demonstrated that they have higher capabilities and standards than WHO, Australia, Singapore, China and many other authorities globally that we Malaysian MUST rely solely on NPRA decisions.

Under the present situation, we should trust the decision taken by some countries outside Malaysia that maintain a high standards in their practices? Singapore approves Pfizer and Moderna. China approves Sinovac and Sinopharm for their population. Japan has approved Moderna and J&J vaccines. Taiwan has approved AstraZeneca and Moderna. Australia has approved Pfizer-Biotech and AstraZeneca vaccines.  We should be able to decide based on the decisions of the selected country.

With so many approved vaccines in the global markets that have undergone stringent approval, we should be able to make quick purchases and administer to the public. In essence, NPRA creates an unnecessarily bureaucratic process that brings little value in the fight against Covid-19.

It raises a lot of questions on the value of NPRA despite having an EL in place. It raises questions why the government must go through a local company and not directly to the manufactures to purchase where it operates under EL and can scrap most of the bureaucratic processes. In the madness of the politics in this country, Sarawak is allowed to purchase Sinovac directly but the same privileges are not given to other states. Selangor’s government request was turned down upfront with some bureaucratic excuse.
 
Let’s be frank about this bureaucratic process and get rid of it. There is a Covid-19 EPIDEMIC in Malaysia and an Emergency has been declared because of it. At least that is what the public is being told. – May 16, 2021.

* Dr Mohamed Rafick Khan reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.