By the Pakatan Harapan Health Committee
THIS is pertaining to the allegation of misreporting by the media following the statement by the Minister of Health yesterday (June 22), which touched upon the procurement of the ‘negative pressure’ ambulances.
His statement quoted by the media said: “We will begin with the tender for 500 units of this type of ambulance, we will use the leasing system according to zones”, which triggered an immediate vehement reaction by many quarters.
The extensive reasons argued by the public health experts and infectious disease clinicians, have made it abundantly clear that we are in no need of this ambulance model and especially not at this juncture, when resources and funding are scarce.
On top of that, a joint statement released by the College of Anaesthesiologist, Academy of Malaysia, Malaysian
Society of Anaesthesiologist & Malaysian Society of Intensive Care has refuted the need for such negative pressure ambulance and that it will not improve the outcome nor help improve the COVID-19 situation with large monetary consequences.
On the contrary, we have always emphasised on the urgent need to invest in the public health approach of ‘FTTIS’, as to flatten the curve and reduce the death cases and BID. If at all a ‘negative pressure’ system is required, it is for the hospital wards and rooms that expose many patients and staff to the risk of SARS CoV-2 infection.
Frontliners managing ambulances are already immunised plus the fact that they are in full PPEs, when managing
COVID-19 patients in ambulances. Much to the chagrin of all, the discussion on procuring assets, as important as ambulances, are only taking place at the tail end of this pandemic.
Even though such procurement has already been endorsed under the former PH Government. This proves to show the misplaced priorities and the lack of proactive measures taken by the current Government to deal with the current health crisis.
Be that as it may, the clarification offered by the Chief Secretary has helped to clear the air. That all media have misreported the Minister’s statement was extremely unfortunate and regrettable.
Finally, we would take this opportunity to remind the PN Government to set their priorities right and base the country’s pandemic measures on science and data. They cannot be overly dependent on lockdown or the movement control order (MCO), but to also give greater emphasis to the mantra of FTTIS, as to arrest the escalating unliked and sporadic community cases.
Besides, we must galvanise the entire resources of the nation, in a truly ‘Whole of Government’ and ‘Whole of Society’ in executing all our programmes.
We could only avoid periodical or recurring ‘lockdowns’, only if we have a holistic public health measures pivoted on Science and Evidence and the mantra of FTTIS and a ramp-up Vaccination Roll-out or PICK, across the entire country. – June 23, 2021
The Pakatan Harapan Health Committee consists of:
Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Ahli Parlimen Kuala Selangor, AMANAH)
Dr Lee Boon Chye (Ahli Parlimen Gopeng, KEADILAN)
Dr Ong Kian Ming (Ahli Parlimen Bangi, DAP)
Datuk Wira Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli (Ahli Parlimen Lumut, AMANAH)
Dr Kelvin Yil (Ahli Parlimen Bandar Kuching, DAP)
Sim Tze Tzin (Ahli Parlimen Bayan Baru, KEADILAN)
Alice Lau (Ahli Parlimen Lanang, DAP)
Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (EXCO Kerajaan Negeri Selangor)
Dr Norlela Ariffin (EXCO Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang)
Veerapan Supramaniam (EXCO Kerajaan Negeri Sembilan)
Dr Niekmah Adam (Angkatan Wanita Amanah Negara, AMANAH)
Dr Zaliha Mustafa (Majlis Pimpinan Pusat, KEADILAN)
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
