KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — Several Members of Parliament today expressed disappointment with the lack of essential equipment in Covid-19 vaccination centres (PPV) that drove staff to ask them for assistance.
Kulim Bandar Baharu MP Saifuddin Nasution Ismail from Kedah pointed out that some PPVs do not even have sufficient basic facilities and have asked MPs to contribute some allocations to buy them.
“Logistics like computers are not enough. Cooler, an important item, is also not enough,” Saifuddin told the Dewan Rakyat today.
“When we (MPs) visit the PPVs, the health care workers there are asking for contributions from us to get items like photocopying machines, laptops, computers, stationery items.
“The RM300 million budget is huge. So please facilitate these matters and allow them to focus on the service delivery. Don’t complicate them with such trivial issues.”
According to a breakdown of the RM5 billion budget for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK), including the cost of vaccine procurement, released by PICK Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin in April, RM333 million was allocated for rental and utilities (such as halls, canopies, tables, chairs, and generators, among others), plus another RM260 million for hardware, consumable supplies, and vaccination implementation (including computers, ICT supplies, and medical consumables among others).
At the same time, Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis also raised similar problems in rural vaccination centres in Sabah.
“Every health clinic and hospital in rural areas should be provided with a continuous special allocation so that they can manage all the logistic issues,” Isnaraissah said in the Dewan Rakyat.
“Sometimes the health care workers ask for additional canopies, chairs in PPV, not only wheelchairs, but equipment too from us to check blood pressure.”
Besides that, Pulai MP Salahuddin Ayub from Johor shared his experience of meeting Muar district officer Mustaffa Kamal Shamsudin, who asked his help to buy basic items for PPV.
“Equipment in PPV is insufficient. District officer came to see me and asked me to use the ADUN allocation to buy computers, fans, and air-conditioners.
“If that is the case, where are the huge allocations from the government channelled to?”
