RALLY the private healthcare sector to help in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, said DAP state assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran.
“The sector’s capabilities are largely unutilised. There are more than 150,000 doctors in the private sector, including those from your local clinics, panel clinics and others.
“The Health Ministry (MOH) has already procured the test kits. So, it would not be difficult to engage these clinics, like what we are doing now, to help conduct these screenings,” he said, in a statement.
Two days ago, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) urged the Government to incorporate private healthcare in its fight against COVID-19, saying the sector’s capabilities are largely underutilised.
“Our Government healthcare facilities should not be taking on this battle by itself. Private healthcare, an integral part of our country’s healthcare system, can be an added strength in managing COVID-19.
“It’s time we ease the strain put on our public healthcare and look into the combined strength of public and private healthcare, to enhance efforts to battle the pandemic and serve other healthcare needs,” MMA president Dr Subramaniam Muniandy was reported saying.
Echoing Subramaniam’s sentiments, Rajiv said the public healthcare system is burning out as it is being stretched to its limits in the effort to battle the rising number of coronavirus infection.
“With 168 clusters still active and new ones being uncovered, the Government must engage any parties willing to help and expand mass testing by making testing affordable across the board – in both private and public healthcare.
“They should be heading a coordinated nationwide effort, regardless of politics, if we hope to bring down the infection rate anytime soon,” he said.
Putting money where the mouth is
In an attempt to prove his point, Rajiv organised COVID-19 testing {Rapid Test Kits-Antigen (RTK-AG)} earlier today for the public, at the discounted rate of RM70.
Currently, the same test kit costs between RM150 and RM180 at the private healthcare facilities.
The Bukit Gasing lawmaker said the initiative, which began this month for his constituents, had been expanded to everyone to make the testing accessible, at an affordable rate.
“In addition, the B40 category Bukit Gasing residents, registered under the Bantuan Prihatin Negara (BPN) scheme, are able to get themselves tested at a subsidised rate of RM30 per person,” said Rajiv.
On the cheaper rate, the DAP leader said he had purchased the RTK-AG kits from the same vendor as MOH and have also provided them to participating clinics.
“We have negotiated a decent bulk price and thus are able to offer the test to the public at RM70, without subsidy.”
“Based on the negotiations I’ve had with the supplier, it is possible to do RTK-AG testing nationwide at RM70 for everyone, without subsidy, if the Government chooses to embark on it.
“We also know that the pricing can come down even further if these test kits are purchased in a larger volume,” said Rajiv.
He the urged the MOH to outsource the testing work to participating clinics which will serve as additional resources battling a raging pandemic.
“This would free up scarce and valuable resources at the Government medical facilities and focus on treating COVID-19 patients, among other things.
“Apart from making COVID-19 testing affordable to the public, this exercise will also allow general practitioners to participate in the war against the pandemic.
“Plus, it will also help them to stay afloat as many of them have suffered financially since the movement control order (MCO) began,” said Rajiv. – Nov 24, 2020.
