We have to ensure Malaysia has adequate capacity to manage both the immediate post-pandemic mental health issues, and also to stay vigilant in preparation for possibly future mental health crises.
The antigen rapid test kit is an accurate assay for contagiousness, which is key to stopping the transmission of infection with accurate diagnosis and immediate quarantine.
The call for persons from a certain place, city, or state to be quarantined should be based purely on public health evidence and needs, rather than fear and discrimination.
In the long run, the extension of contracts to 10 years will translate to savings for the government as we will have ample trained specialists without the need to import specialists.
The additional six-month contract extension limits contract workers from getting enough time and training for their specialist programmes, even if they are doing the parallel pathways.