Health emergency action plan: Roadmap to recovery from Covid-19

Malaysia is at a critical juncture, with the Covid-19 pandemic spreading unchecked, and healthcare services overrun in crisis states. Most national strategies so far are demonstrably failing and Covid is becoming endemic in Malaysia.

We would like to offer a health emergency action plan that serves as a roadmap to recovery. This plan aims to offer ideas and make suggestions, and is not intended to apportion blame or point fingers at any quarters.

The plan is based on three guiding principles:

• Trust is crucial to fighting the pandemic and this is based on transparency
• There must be an all-of-society approach
• We need a set of solutions that is not based on lockdowns

The full document with ideas and suggestions is available from this downloadable link. The open source document is made freely available for use. We also welcome all those who can improve on these recommendations.

The key thrust of our recommendations are:

• Stopping the community spread of Covid by having a comprehensive national testing strategy, which includes tracing all contacts, enabling public self-tests, allowing home quarantine with monitoring, and limiting non-critical social interaction
• Ramping up genome testing to monitor Covid variants
• Increasing support for public hospitals and clinics by improving conditions for contract staff, growing ventilation and ICU capacities, ensuring respite for staff, and ensuring a multi-sectoral approach with civil society support
• Data transparency and sharing with the public is important. The media should be engaged as partners to communicate better metrics that can monitor the pandemic and hospital situations, as well as to combat rumours and fake news
• Strong cooperative leadership is vital. We propose a national coordinating unit that reports to the cabinet and to Parliament. Decision-making should be decentralised to states to enable local action to be taken rapidly
• The national Covid immunisation programme needs to be improved, with less reliance on mega-vaccination centres and better use of health clinics, school health teams and general practitioners. Outreach programmes are necessary to reach those unable to register, as well as to non-citizens. Equitable vaccination distribution is important for all states
• Community responsibility and support is integral to making headway in the battle against the pandemic. This requires simpler, science-based standard operating procedures, using RTK-Ag testing, significant improvements in workplace ventilation, and a financial safety net for the poor.

We realise that the worst is yet to come and call for urgent effective action backed by political will and competence.

Although there have been calls of an all-of-society approach, this has not happened due to limited public engagement.

Now, more than ever, we need to come together and work to lift our nation out of this turmoil.

Prepared by (alphabetical order):

• Dr Amar Singh HSS
• Dr Khor Swee Kheng
• Prof Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman
• Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar

Endorsed by (alphabetical order):

1. Academy of Medicine Malaysia
2. Association of Malaysian Optometrists
3. College of Anaesthesiologists, Academy of Medicine Malaysia
4. College of Physicians, Academy of Medicine Malaysia
5. Malaysian Association of Dental Public Health Specialists
6. Malaysian Association of Environmental Health
7. Malaysian Medical Association Public Health Society
8. Malaysian Pharmacists Society
9. Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists
10. Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychologists
11. Malaysian Society of Intensive Care
12. Malaysian Society of Occupational Safety and Health
13. Medical Assistants Association of Malaysia
14. Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia
15. National Cancer Society of Malaysia
16. Obstetrical & Gynaecological Society of Malaysia
17. Perinatal Society of Malaysia
18. Persatuan Dermatologi Malaysia
19. Public Health Physicians Association of Malaysia
20. Malaysian Health Coalition

Individuals:

1. Prof Dr Ahmad Hata Rasit
2. Dr Andre Das
3. Amrahi Buang
4. Dr Azlina Firzah Abdul Aziz
5. Prof Dr Asri Said
6. Dr Christopher Ho Chee Kong
7. Dr Hung Liang Choo
8. Dr Khor Swee Kheng
9. Dr Koh Kar Chai
10. Dr Margaret Leow Poh Gaik
11. Prof Dr Lim Kean Ghee
12. Prof Dr Roslina Abdul Manap
13. Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh
14. Assoc Prof Dr Shireen Nah
15. Dr Siow Sze Li
16. Assoc Prof Uma Devi Palanisamy
17. Prof Dr Zaleha Abdullah Mahdy
18. Dr Zulkifli Ismail

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama

1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme

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