THE lack of organisation and transparency from state health departments on the Covid-19 booster shot programme has left private clinics in the dark about the processes involved, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said today.

Its president Dr Koh Kar Chai said state health departments are supposed to be responsible for deciding which private clinics get to participate in the vaccination process but that they have been silent on the matter.

“There has been no planning and no coordination on the ground, at least not that we know of.

“We hope that all general practitioner (GP) clinics that had functioned as vaccination centres (PPV) will be allowed to participate and not only a select few (through) selection criteria… not made known to the GPs,” Koh said in a statement.

“The GPs have been working closely with Protecthealth Corporation Sdn Bhd on the onboarding of GPs in the National Immunisation Programme (NIP) and, right now, there are about 1,635 private GP clinics that have functioned as a PPV GP, but there has been silence from the state health departments on the programme for the booster shots.”

He said MMA wonders if it will be the same old story again where the state health departments will notify GPs only at the last minute.

He said many GPs are already inundated with calls from the public inquiring about the availability of the booster shots.

It is estimated that around 8.75 million people will be receiving a third or a booster dose.

“Hence the rollout needs to be properly planned and coordinated,” he said.

“There is the need for efficiency and speed in this booster vaccination programme,” he said.

Koh said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has on several occasions stated that private GPs will be involved throughout the NIP and going forward in the administering of booster shots.

He added that health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has been supportive of roping in private GPs but there has been poor implementation on the ground by the state health departments.

“This needs to change, and quickly, if we are to ensure a successful rollout of the booster shots.” – October 14, 2021.