No entry: Army personnel installing barbed wire around Mentari Court in PJS 8, which was under enhanced MCO from July 1 to 14, 2021. — SS Kanesan/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Dr Chang Chee Seong was a general practitioner, working in a clinic chain when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March 2020.
Then, it went from a quiet clinic to a “war zone”, fighting battle after battle as the number of cases just started spiralling.
His clinic was among the first to carry out polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which no one else wanted to do. They even rented an ambulance to go out and test possible patients.
Tests at clinics were almost “taboo” for people in the neighbourhood at the time, but Dr Chang said they persevered.
“When I approached the laboratory to do the PCR test, we were met with scepticism, as we were only running clinics. But we wanted to try.
“It is like going to war; you are afraid of the battles ahead. Who is going to be at the frontline fighting the battles? So, I proceeded with the Covid-19 test on March 8.
“We didn’t want to do the tests at the clinics because it was considered a ‘taboo’ with the staff and patients, as well as neighbouring folks who were all worried. So, we rented an ambulance and went around to test those suspected of having the virus,” he said.
Routine back then: Medical officers from Selcare clinic collecting swab samples for Covid-19 testing during a screening in Taman Permata, Ampang Jaya, in June 2021. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
By May 2020, Dr Chang said the first wave of construction workers were tested, and companies as well as site operators started approaching them to carry out the swab tests.
He said there was difficulty in finding staff, medics, nurses and even doctors to help with the swabbing because many were afraid of being infected.
With the Health Ministry (MOH) and private hospitals also shortstaffed, there was a labour shortage in the sector.
“Our nurses were absorbed into the MOH and private healthcare facilities with higher wages. There was a shortage of trained medical personnel in private clinics.
“At the start of the pandemic, many patients refused to wear face masks, and we had trouble convincing them to do so.
Dr Chang, who was part of six Klinik Medipulse under the group practice, said getting food was also a problem.
“Clinics were considered an essential service, but a lot of other businesses were shut, so we had trouble finding food,” he said.
Looking back, Dr Chang said it may be easy now to describe what happened in 2020 as an overreaction, but things could have been worse if not for the quick action seen.
“The lesson we need to learn from the pandemic is to be more cautious, make smarter choices, take preventive measures, and have better policies in place.”
Former Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah remarked that March 18, the date when the first lockdown was implemented five years ago, stands as a powerful reminder of resilience in the face of adversity.
In a Facebook post, Dr Noor Hisham, who was the face of the pandemic, stressed the importance of Malaysia fostering healthier and more inclusive communities that ensure equitable access to healthcare for all citizens.
“We must channel the lessons from the pandemic to improve our preparedness and strengthen health systems,” he said, adding that the crisis had shown why everyone – from the individual to the government – had to work together.
Dr Noor Hisham also honoured every frontline worker, especially healthcare professionals, whose sacrifices saved lives and saw the country through what was one of its darkest hours.
