17 January 2020

Press statement by MCA Central Committee Member cum MCA Social Development Committee Chairman Datuk Dr Lee Hong Tee

After admitting vaccine shortage, Health Ministry must undertake countermeasures



Just on 13 Jan 2020, Health Minister Dato’ Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad assured that there was sufficient stocks of flu vaccine and urged the public not to worry. Unexpectedly, just 4 days later, his Deputy Dr Lee Boon Chye confessed that there was a shortage of vaccines in the market, thereby reflecting on the Health Ministry’s contradictions and incompetence on countermeasures!

In any case, I also acknowledge the Deputy Health Minister’s professionalism in speaking the truth, and I look forward to the government's rapid response to the crisis.

By acknowledging the shortage of influenza vaccines in the market, his admittance confirms the concerns raised in the press conference held by MCA on the actual situation in the market where there is a shortage of vaccines .
 
In fact, the H1N1 vaccine was discontinued as early as December, while the public has aired concerns on the shortage of vaccines and drugs. However, in trying to convey assurances, the Ministry of Health appears to be oblivious to the voices of discontent. As a result, the vaccine shortage was only reported on 17 Jan 2020 and drug manufacturers are required to rush. From this we can see how slow and incompetent the Ministry of Health is when responding to emergency measures.

To my knowledge, manufacturers have stated that the vaccines must be prepared as soon as possible after the Lunar New Year as the flu epidemic is  becoming increasingly serious in the near future, while many people are looking for vaccines but have nowhere to go.

This outbreak has endangered people’s health and lives. The Health Ministry is urged to stop feeling self assured but to take action to comprehend the real situation on the ground and to heed the rakyat’s immediate problems. MoH must resolve problems, and not wait until the situation takes a turn for the worse.

MCA recommends:

  1. The Government / Health Ministry should establish an Influenza A Special Action Committee to address this epidemic and to disseminate the relevant information;

 

  1. The Committee should conduct a briefing session at least once a day, to report on the latest development of the outbreak, including the number of patients, fatalities, location of the infection, vaccine stocks and others;

 

  1. Establish special evacuation rooms at terribly hit locations, coordinate the distribution and method of usage of medicines and vaccines, such as prioritising the distribution of medicines and vaccines to hospitals and health clinics in severely affected areas, or prioritising government hospitals and others;

 

  1. This Committee is also responsible to deliver information on preventive measures to assuage the public. This must be executed in a systematic and structured manner, via various channels and platforms;
     
  2. Announce the reasons for the epidemic’s spread; examine which party must bear the responsibility, besides outlining long and short-term solutions.


Datuk Dr Lee Hong Tee
MCA Central Committee Member
MCA Social Development Committee Chairman

-MCA online-