Four years since Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Noor Hisham urges improvement in healthcare

PETALING JAYA: We should remember and use the lessons learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic to further invest in and improve our healthcare system, says Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Exactly four years ago after pandemic lockdowns rocked our nation, the former health director-general recalled the unprecedented health crisis that engulfed the world and the nation during his tenure.

"Today March 18, exactly 4 years ago we faced our first day of an unprecedented lockdown due to Covid-19.

"We did not have therapeutic medicines and vaccines then, coupled with limited diagnostic capacity using PCR.

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"It was a historic moment to enforce Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) for the whole country as the pandemic tested our resilience and unity like never before," he said in a Tweet on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday (March 18).

Dr Noor Hisham called on Malaysians to recall the spirit of unity and community that was shown amidst the global crisis as well as the need to further upgrade our national healthcare system.

"Let us not forget the unity that carried us through, embracing the whole of government and whole of society approach.

"Let us not forget the spirit of togetherness and Community Empowerment as well as the lives that were lost and morbidity from long Covid.

"My greatest fear is people forget what they learned during the Covid-19 pandemic and not invest in their health and Health System," the current National Heart Institute (IJN) chairman wrote.

Today March 18, exactly 4 years ago we faced our first day of an unprecedented lockdown due to Covid-19. We did not have therapeutic medicines and vaccines then, coupled with limited diagnostic capacity using PCR. It was a historic moment to enforce act 342 for the whole country.... pic.twitter.com/ZMbK9XRxKj — Noor Hisham Abdullah (@DGHisham) March 18, 2024