Protecthealth Denies Gps Barred From Giving Vaccine

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ProtectHealth says all PPVs are not giving the first dose in Selangor and KL anymore as it will now be given via the walk-in process.PETALING JAYA: ProtectHealth Corporation has denied that it has reversed its decision to allow the participation of general practitioners (GPs) under the national Covid-19 immunisation programme (PICK) in the Klang Valley.
The corporation said GPs were continuously being onboarded under PICK as they are essential to ensure that the whole population is eventually vaccinated.
“More GPs will be recruited nationwide. There will potentially be a booster dose, new registrants, more anti-vax converts, 18-year-olds and also when we reduce the age limit for vaccinations. GPs are our defence stronghold,” it said in a statement.
The corporation also added that eventually vaccination centres (PPVs) will be closed and more GPs will be needed.
According to ProtectHealth, Operation Surge Capacity in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor had been completed with up to 97% of adults given at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
“The Covid-19 immunisation task force (CITF) decided that any more first dose of the vaccine will be done via the walk-in process.
“As such, all PPVs except for dedicated PPVs managing non-Malaysians are not doing the first dose in Selangor and KL, not just GPs,” it said.
The corporation added that the GPs charge of RM14 per dose was the same price as the cost to send patients to PPVs.
In February, ProtectHealth, a non-profit company set up by the health ministry, was appointed by the government to manage the participation of GPs in the national immunisation programme for phases 2 and 3.
Earlier today, Dr Steven Chow, president of the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations, Malaysia (FPMPAM) claimed that GPs were no longer allowed to give the first vaccine dose.
He added that this has caused a lot of inconvenience to patients, especially senior citizens, as they now had to travel to bigger PPVs and endure the inconvenience of uncertain waiting times as well as the risk of infection.
Chow also called for ProtectHealth, which is in charge of facilitating GP-based vaccinations, to explain why patients are sent to PPVs where the cost is RM30 per person while GPs only charge RM14 per dose, which was more cost-effective. - FMT

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