Ending vaccinations at GPs against my advice, says Noor Hisham

Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah on a visit to a private clinic carrying out Covid-19 vaccinations today. (Noor Hisham Twitter pic)

PETALING JAYA: Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today that a decision to stop vaccinations at private clinics had been made against his advice.

He said he was happy with the progress made by general practitioners (GPs) in the national Covid-19 immunisation programme.

In response to a question from Klang MP Charles Santiago, Noor Hisham had said the decision to stop vaccinations at private clinics was “contrary to my proposal to increase the participation of GPs”.

He added: “I have visited the GP practice(s) myself and (am) happy with the progress made.”

Earlier today, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) had said it was puzzled as to why the Covid-19 immunisation task force (CITF) recently decided to stop vaccination appointments at 741 private GP clinics, several private hospitals and ambulatory care centres in Selangor.

Santiago, in a posting on Twitter, asked Noor Hisham what was the motive for stopping the appointments and closing public vaccination centres in the Klang Valley.

“Are we facing vaccine shortages? Or just the usual planning failure?”

MMA said the 741 GPs were given only 48 hours notice by CITF to cease operations. MMA president Subramaniam Muniandy said most people found it more convenient to go to a private GP for vaccinations.

FMT

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