Health Ministry to launch WhatsApp chatbot to answer questions on Covid-19

The Health Ministry wants the public to stay up to date on the Covid-19 pandemic by using its new WhatsApp chatbot. — Bernama

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is setting up a chatbot on WhatsApp to better address the public’s questions about the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

In a post on its Telegram channel, the ministry said the chatbot was to ensure Malaysians would get the most accurate information on Covid-19 and, armed with that knowledge, be able to help the government curb its spread.

“With this WhatsApp chatbot, users will no longer need to wait online to get answers. So make this chatbot a part of your reference materials today,” it said.

The National Security Council also posted about the service on its Telegram channel, saying users could scan the provided QR code to open a chat with the bot in WhatsApp.

The QR code connects user to a verified business account called CPRC (Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre) Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia.

Its profile information lists itself as a government service, with a link to the Crisis Centre’s address and the Health Ministry’s website.

MOH said the bot would be launched soon, and a test of the WhatsApp channel by LifestyleTech confirmed it was not responding to questions yet.