Dr Yii calls for Covid-19 allowance to cover ETD doctors, support staff

KUCHING: Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii urges the federal government and Health Ministry to extend the special RM600 monthly Covid-19 allowance to cover a larger group of healthcare workers who are also part of the “ecosystem” of management of Covid-19 patients.

He said in a statement yesterday the group comprises Emergency and Trauma Department (ETD) doctors, hospital cleaners, pharmacists, essential medical supplies logistics coordinators, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and counselors.

Yii added that a recent circular released by the Health Ministry stated that only health workers who are directly involved in the Covid-19 management and have worked at least 15 days in one calendar month qualify for the full special allowance.

“This covers doctors, nurses, medical assistants, assistant environmental health officers, Xray technicians, medical laboratory, public health assistants and many others directly involved in the chain of management in handling and curbing the Covid-19 outbreak.

“While I strongly welcome such incentives and allowances, there are some other healthcare workers that in my view are also part of the whole management ecosystem that has fallen between the cracks and may not qualify for such incentives. This is because they also risk their own safety and their own family’s safety, just to make sure we are cared for and protected,”

Dr Yii gave an example where based on a news report by CodeBlue, an Emergency Department, doctors may not qualify for the allowance as they were not considered part of the Covid-19 team, even though they expose themselves to the virus when they see patients day in and day out including those with respiratory problems who may carry the Covid-19 virus as well.

Dr Yii noted there were reports of patients who hid their contacts with Covid-19 positive patients from the doctors, thus exposing them to the virus.

These doctors may not be stationed at the Covid-19 wards thus may not qualify for the full allowance which requires them to be at the wards for at least 15 days in a month.

“I believe doctors, houseman, medical assistants, and staff nurses, in the ETD should also qualify for this allowance as they are also exposed to the risk of such patients before they are triaged to the Covid-19 stations or in emergency situations, need to intubate such patients exposing them to the risk of the infection,” he said.