KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 — At least 7,606 patients received outpatient rehabilitation services for long Covid at Ministry of Health (MOH) facilities from 2020 to 2023, official data revealed.
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said that between 2020 and 2022, a total of 7,394 patients underwent structured interdisciplinary medical rehabilitation as outpatients for long Covid care.
In 2023, there was a significant decrease, with only 212 long Covid patients receiving specialised medical rehabilitation services.
Long Covid, according to the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is broadly defined as signs, symptoms, and conditions that continue or develop after acute Covid-19 infection.
Long Covid can include a wide range of ongoing health problems; these conditions can last weeks, months, or years.
Dzulkefly said the ministry introduced a structured rehabilitation programme involving an interdisciplinary team of rehabilitation specialists, medical officers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, counsellors, and other personnel required by the patient.
“This approach is vital for comprehensive case management and can facilitate the full reintegration of affected individuals into community activities, contributing to improved productivity, and socio-economic development.
“This structured rehabilitation programme is available in both government and private facilities,” Dzulkefly told Segamat MP Yuneswaran Ramaraj in a written Dewan Rakyat reply on March 5.
Meanwhile, between November 2020 and September 2022, a total of 22 deaths were reported among long Covid patients referred consecutively for specialised Covid-19 rehabilitation outpatient specialised services (Cross) at Sungai Buloh Hospital.
“However, the cause of death was found not to be directly linked to long Covid, but involved other complications such as lung infections, massive pulmonary embolism, heart attacks, kidney failure, metastatic cancer, and peptic ulcer bleeding,” Dzulkefly said.
No deaths were recorded under the service in 2023.
The MOH issued the National Guideline for Post-Covid Management in July 2021, aligning with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations for addressing Post-Covid Condition (PCC) via the three Rs approach – recognition, rehabilitation, and research.
This guideline serves as the main reference for medical professionals in managing multi-system complications and prolonged symptoms of long Covid.
Additionally, Sungai Buloh Hospital published an e-book titled “Optimum: Guide, Support, and Inspiration for Self-Management of Post-Covid Rehabilitation Individuals” in 2022 to cater to the educational and empowerment needs of patients undergoing post-Covid rehab.
