04
The Health | june-july, 2020
| Local News |
Malaysians are
worried about
healthcare
‘Malaysians are worried,’ finds a poll
conducted by EMIR Research (EMIR).
Healthcare and the cost of living seem
to be some of the few facets that keep
Malaysians worried.
The finding on the National Worry
Index (NWI) jumped up a notch, and
attributed to the failure of the PH
government to address quickly and
urgently the five tenets of the economy.
The tenets are mitigating the cost
of living, enhancing the quality of
life, creating credible jobs, ensuring
affordable homes and enabling
affordable healthcare.
EMIR’s inaugural poll last year
resulted in NWI of 0.77, which denotes
a marginally maximum worried rakyat.
The same index for this year’s survey
moved up a spot to 0.78, indicating a
worsening worry atmosphere among the
rakyat.
According to EMIR, the facets that
seem to keep the rakyat worried are on
whether the country’s future direction
is on the right track. Also, whether
the economy is on a firm footing and
whether family life is better now than
previously. They are concerned whether
the living condition is going to be better
in the future.
These facets, which encapsulate the
perceptions of the rakyat on the future
state of their living conditions, shows
that they are worried about the
wellbeing of the nation.
However, on a brighter note, 50 per
cent of the respondents felt that their
living conditions in Malaysia would
be better in the future, despite more
than half of the respondents feeling
unsure on whether the country’s
future was headed in the right
direction.
EMIR, an independent thinktank
focused on strategic policy
recommendations based upon
rigorous research, conducted the poll
between Jan 15 and Feb 24 this year.
— The Health
Trauma from
pandemic could
hinder economic
recovery
Minister in the Prime Minister’s
Department (Economy) Datuk Seri
Mustapa Mohamed said the spread of
Covid-19 had affected the psychological
wellbeing of the public. This factor
could slow down the economic recovery
process.
However, he said current
developments related to the Covid-19
pandemic do not affect the country’s
economic recovery during the Recovery
Movement Control Order (RMCO)
period.
“We are grateful that after Jun 10,
there have been some relaxations, small
hotels have started taking reservations,
hotels are gradually reopening, airlines
have resumed domestic flights,
small and medium enterprises have
resumed operations. We see that the
government’s desire to revive the
economy has succeeded partially,
though not wholly.
“But the psychological effects on
the public, where they are fearful of
carrying out normal activities like
going on a holiday, going shopping
or to school and the like, is the main
stumbling block to economic recovery,”
he said at a recent Press conference.
Mustapa said the main priority for
the government now was to tackle
public health challenges brought by
Covid-19.
“We can say it has been successful,
and some of the methods we’ve used to
handle the crisis have become examples
for the world and both developing and
developed countries are emulating our
methods.
“If handling the health issue is the
first phase, the second phase is reviving
the economy, and Penjana (Economic
Recovery Plan) is being closely
monitored,” he said. — The Health
Covid-19 test not required
for buying medical insurance
There has been an increase in awareness on the
importance of insurance and demand for protection
products in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
People are in a state of protective mentality, and the
fast-spreading virus has spurred greater interest in life
and medical insurance. With the ongoing health crisis,
some might wonder if there are special requirements
to purchase a medical policy now or if there would be
adjustments to the premiums.
Sun Life Malaysia CEO and president/country
head Raymond Lew said: “From Sun Life Malaysia’s
end, there is no specific requirement for people to be
tested for Covid-19 before undertaking a life or medical
insurance or takaful. Our proposal form remains the
same as the one we had before this pandemic.”
Potential clients are encouraged to fully disclose
their medical history, as per the usual practice, for
them to enjoy the necessary protection coverage.
According to Wilson Beh, PolicyStreet co-founder
and COO, potential clients who want to purchase
a medical policy on the platform do not have to go
through a Covid-19 test.
It is more important now than ever to ensure there
is sufficient coverage for the cost of hospitalisation
UKM makes hand sanitisers
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has been
making its own hand sanitisers since March. It uses
99 per cent alcohol which is liquified to 70 per cent.
The raw materials are from Hospital Canselor Tuanku
Muhriz’s pharmacy store.
The solution is prepared and bottled at its health
centre. The hand sanitiser dispensers, which are
regularly refilled, are distributed free to all residential
colleges, faculties and administrative departments.
UKM has also set up a Covid-19 operations room at the
health centre’s emergency unit.
The operations room serves as a one-stop centre
that deals with campus workflow and processes
about Covid-19. The room is also a reference and data
collection centre for Covid-19 student statistics during
the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Besides the hand sanitiser, face masks, gloves and
and treatment in the event a person is diagnosed with
certain illnesses such as Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Berjaya Sompo Insurance head of
underwriting for health Robin Ding said though Covid-
19 was classified as a pandemic by the World Health
Organisation and, therefore, not covered typically, the
insurer would cover treatments performed in Malaysia
should policyholders meet requirements as a goodwill
gesture for clients who are affected by the unexpected
outbreak.
“Since February this year, we have ramped up our
response to the pandemic by offering complimentary
support measures to our clients who are diagnosed
with Covid-19,” said Lew.
The complimentary Covid-19 measures include
an extension of medical coverage for hospitalisation
and treatment related to Covid-19, continuation of
coverage and benefits for those quarantined by law for
hospitalisation and treatment, coverage for outpatient
treatment at any registered clinic or hospital upon
confirmed diagnosis as well as a waiving of the 30-day
waiting period to enable new clients to enjoy coverage
immediately for individual hospital and surgical
policies. — The Health
other necessities are distributed to security, residential
college and healthcare personnel at its operations
room daily. — The Health