Don T Turn Back Private Healthcare Workers At Roadblocks Association

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Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) has expressed concern over reports that some private healthcare workers have not been considered part of essential services by authorities manning roadblocks and public transport stations.
Its president Dr Kuljit Singh said this was despite such personnel having valid letters to go to work. 
"We fully understand the possibility of some who will try to impersonate a healthcare worker to get through roadblocks but all private healthcare workers are equipped with letters from private hospital human resource departments or chief executive officers with photo-identification badges and contact numbers for verification.
"Private hospitals are actively involved in the pandemic from regular walk-in testing, to treating Covid-19 patients in Intensive Care Units and managing vaccine centres.
"Hence any delay at roadblocks and security checkpoints could lead to disastrous events in the private hospital," he said in a statement today.
Singh said that the total lockdown has caused distress to some private healthcare workers who had experienced being turned back at checkpoints. 

APHM president Dr Kuljit Singh

"Our appeal to the inspector-general of police and all the security forces is to take immediate action and have this sorted out.
"APHM is willing to have a dialogue session with the National Security Council (NSC) and we have a written a letter on this matter," he added.
He pointed out that private hospitals are licensed under the Private Healthcare Facilities & Services Act (Act 586), which should not need approval from the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) for personnel to go to work, including non-clinical staff besides doctors, nurses and pharmacists who are required to be physically at the hospital. 
"We hope that our medical consultants are given equal treatment like their counterparts in the Health Ministry to use special lanes at the roadblocks as often there are urgent emergencies to attend to.
"The association has worked hard to be in the forefront with the government in managing this pandemic and we appeal to have some flexibility so that our staff will be able to contribute optimally," he added.

MMA president Dr M Subramaniam
Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) president Dr M Subramaniam also highlighted reports that private healthcare workers were stopped by the authorities and faced issues getting to work because they did not have a Miti letter. 
"Two days ago, the Health Ministry issued a circular stating that private healthcare workers will only need to show proof of employment to the police if they are stopped.
"If they are still facing issues, it can only mean these policies have not been clearly communicated to the relevant departments at the ground level," he said.
The MMA urged the NSC to ensure necessary steps are immediately taken to address this.
"Private clinics, hospitals and dental clinics are registered with the Health Ministry and provide frontline healthcare services. Many private healthcare practitioners are also involved in conducting mass screenings on-site and at times will be required to cross districts.
"Permission should also be given for them to proceed upon showing the police the required documents," he added. - Mkini

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