Health DG says he wanted vaccinations at private clinics to continue

Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah. -Bernama filepic

PETALING JAYA: Vaccinations at private general practitioner (GP) clinics under ProtectHealth Corporation (PHCorp) would have continued under a proposal from Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

"(The closures were) Contrary to my proposal to increase the participation of general practitioners (GPs) in the country under PHCorp.

"I have visited the GP practices myself... happy with the progress made," he said in a tweet on Saturday (Aug 21) night.

Dr Noor Hisham also said private medical practitioners had "performed an outstanding job" in their role to help achieve the vaccination target in Selangor and the Klang Valley.

He was responding to questions raised over the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) decision to end vaccination appointments at 741 private clinics, several private hospitals and ambulatory care centres in Selangor.

Earlier on Saturday, Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Datuk Dr Subramaniam Muniandy expressed dismay that GPs under the programme were issued only two days' notice by the CITF to cease vaccinations.

CITF stated that Operation Surge Capacity from July 23 to Aug 1 had achieved its goal of providing at least one dose of vaccine to all registered adults in the Klang Valley.

As such, CITF said a decision was made that no further vaccination appointments would be given from Aug 23 onwards.

In his statement, Dr Subramaniam also urged the government to include some 8,000 private GPs nationwide under the programme to ensure that herd immunity for the nation is met.

Also questioning the move was Klang MP Charles Santiago, who raised the matter with Dr Noor Hisham, prompting a reply.

On Sunday (Aug 22), CITF announced that the walk-in programmes at 13 vaccination dispensing centres in the Klang Valley and Putrajaya would continue after Monday (Aug 23).

The CITF also said walk-in vaccinations for foreigners at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium PPV would cease on Monday and future vaccinations there would be by appointment only.

Contrary to my proposal to increase the participation of GPs in the country under PHCorp. I have visited the GP practice myself and happy with the progress made. pic.twitter.com/Zz1ZHqC1N9 — Noor Hisham Abdullah (@DGHisham) August 21, 2021