MP questions Health Ministry after drive-through Covid-19 testing stopped

 

Bakri MP Yeo Bee Yin has questioned the Health Ministry's commitment to involving the community in the fight against Covid-19 after a free-testing service provided by her office in Muar, Johor, was stopped by the state Health Department yesterday (June 20) morning.

Sin Chew Daily reported that the drive-through testing event was stopped as the health officer feared it may attract a crowd which may lead to an infection outbreak.

"Dr Adham Baba, is there a clear directive for community testing now? Our community Covid testing programme (drive-through) got cancelled by the local authority this morning, threatening to revoke the doctor's licence. How ridiculous!" tweeted Yeo yesterday.

According to the report, the testing programme, which charged RM30 for an antigen rapid test kit (RTK), was disputed by the police and health officers.

DAP's Bentayan state assemblyperson Ng Yak Howe was quoted as saying the programme was interrupted because such mass outdoor testings may attract too large of a crowd.

However, Ng told a press conference that similar events were carried out by his colleagues at Johor Bahru and Kulai and these were not disrupted.

He said instead of disrupting the community testing programme, the health minister should act against private hospitals and clinics that charge above RM100 for a Covid-19 test.

When contacted, Yeo urged the minister to issue a clear guideline on community Covid-19 testing.

"This is because each health district has been empowered to decide whether to allow such mass testing, but the district health offices said the state Health Department barred such mass testing events," she said.

"The officials were concerned that such an event may attract a crowd, but how can a drive-through event attract a crowd? Apart from this, the workers also wear personal protective equipment (PPE)," Yeo said. - Mkini

✍ Credit given to the original owner of this post : ☕ Malaysians Must Know the TRUTH

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