PETALING JAYA: The new guidelines outlining standard of practices for private online healthcare service providers, including virtual clinics, mark a critical move towards restoring trust and professionalism in digital health.
Digital health platform DoctorOnCall chief executive officer Maran Virumandi, who welcomed the Health Ministry’s recent release of the Guidelines for Online Healthcare Services (OHS), said it is a much needed step in the right direction.
“For far too long, the online healthcare landscape has been marred by unregistered apps and websites operating without proper oversight – leading to concerns over unsafe medical protocols, lack of professional accountability, poor patient data protection and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
“There’s been many unregistered websites and online shops doing illegal services selling psychotropics and unregistered drugs which endanger uneducated patients as they think that it’s a real doctor or pharmacist.
“Hence, this move will protect the patients while ensuring that the genuine doctors or pharmacists can practise in a safe online space,” he told The Star.
In a circular dated May 5, the ministry state that the guidelines will serve as an interim measure and possibly signify a legal precedent to regulate OHS.
It also stated that OHS can only attend to non-emergency cases; follow-ups, referrals, support services like supply of medication, laboratory and imaging services as well as group counselling sessions for psychology, nutrition or rehabilitation.
Under the guidelines, OHS are also strictly prohibited from attending to emergency cases involving injury or acute illnesses posing immediate risk or in person sessions for long-term health or psychiatric cases.
Maran said they are committed to aligning with the new standards, which can lay the groundwork for a safer, more trustworthy and globally competitive digital healthcare ecosystem in Malaysia.
He pointed out that they are encouraged by the emphasis on mandatory registration of platforms and professionals, prohibition of high-risk, complex or emergency cases in virtual care, clear governance on e-prescriptions and pharmacy regulations and stringent protocol for consent and data privacy.
Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) president Prof Amrahi Buang also said they are in support of the long-awaited national guidelines for OHS.
“Consumers will benefit from these OHS in terms of a regulatory framework with ease and have legal protection.
“They can also get e-pharmacy services through online platforms, medicine delivery and tele-pharmacy services.
“For operators, they can now operate legally with this Director-General of Health circular pending future enactment of the Online Healthcare Services Act,” he said.
“As such, with this national guideline, every aspect is covered, especially in terms of personal data protection and data security.”
Additionally, he said MPS had taken steps to support this endeavour by providing verification for online platforms in Shopee and Lazada in 2021.
He said members must be registered pharmacists under the Registration of Pharmacist Act 1951 and possess Poison Type A licence.
Amrahi also mentioned that pharmacists have been providing e-pharmacy services since 2020 during the Covid-19 lockdowns, when consumers resorted to online mode for services.
For e-prescription, he said community pharmacist can dispense prescription drugs by doctors through e-prescription through secured online platforms meeting the requirements under the Poisons Act 1952.
