KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 — The government will give a one-off RM500 sum next year to 100,000 staff from the Ministry of Health (MOH) labouring at the frontlines of combating Covid-19.
Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz also stated that the special monthly Covid-19 allowance of RM600 will be continued for all MOH frontliners until Malaysia overcomes the Covid-19 pandemic successfully.
“This year, the government has allocated RM1.8 billion for the implementation of movement restriction measures and public health services related to Covid-19 including purchase of personal protective equipment, reagents and consumables,” Tengku Zafrul said in Parliament during the tabling of Budget 2021.
According to the finance minister, another RM1 billion will also be allocated next year to curb the third wave of Covid-19 in the country, mainly on testing supplies and protective gear.
A total of RM475 million has been allocated for the purchase of reagent supplies, screening kits and consumables, specifically for the use of MOH.
Next, RM318 million will be used for the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand sanitiser to MOH frontliners.
Thirdly, RM150 million will be channeled to the National Disaster Management Agency to coordinate efforts to combat Covid-19 transmission in the country.
Besides that, another RM50 million will be used buy equipments, laboratory test supplies and medicines at the University Hospitals.
Finally, the government also intends to add operating equipment of dental facilities, virtual clinic services, as well as prepare more screening facilities and thermometers in public health facilities to comply with the new norms of living amid the pandemic.
