| Covid-19 |
august-september, 2020 | The Health
21
Embracing the new normal
through digitization
Prevention and control of Covid-19 are very much
in the hands of Malaysians
BY CAMILIA REZALI
From the moment the Covid-19
outbreak was declared a global
health emergency, a lot has changed
in the way we live.
The way we now do things and
conduct our daily routine is the
new normal. And this is likely to continue
as the number of new Covid-19 cases vary
between single and double digits daily.
Although we are now in the Recovery
Movement Control Order (RMCO), we must
continue to be vigilant.
Thus, a timely webinar was organised
by Digital Heath Malaysia on ‘The New
Normal in Public Health Following the
Covid-19 Pandemic’. The webinar featured
guest speaker Deputy Director-General of
Health (Public Health), Datuk Dr Chong
Chee Kheong while the moderator was
Professor Dr Wong Chee Piau.
Dr Chong said the options of prevention
and control for Covid-19 were very much in
the hands of all of us.
“We do not have a drug or a vaccine. We
are still not there yet and having said this,
probably the only thing that we can do is
actually to talk about how we can play a
role in social distancing as well as personal
protection.”
While having limited weapons to fight
the pandemic, requirements such as social
distancing, maintaining proper hygiene
and using face masks must continue, at
least until the end of 2020.
General principles of the new normal
When the new normal came into effect,
strategic guidelines for various situations
was provided by the government
– introducing Standard Operating
Procedures (SOP) be they for a classroom
setting, public transport, social gatherings
or for healthcare workers.
The four principles in embracing the
new normal include border control, control
of movement, physical distancing and
self-protection.
Said Dr Chong: “For healthcare workers,
this is a specialised area because we usually
will talk about two distinctive sections; one
in primary care and the other in hospitals
and wards.
“The stringency of the SOP for hospitals
is extremely high. We not only have to wear
a face mask, but we also wear a face shield,
goggles, gowns and a few other things to
prevent healthcare workers from catching
Covid-19.”
Healthcare workers in primary care
clinics, on the other hand, have a lower
level of stringency. Nevertheless, it is much
higher compared to sites outside of the
working healthcare environment.
Due to the strict procedures, the
healthcare sector stockpiles on its personal
protective equipment that lasts not less
than three months.
Going for a digital health system
The potential to change from the standard
Datuk Dr Chong Chee Kheong
BORDER CONTROL
• Health screening at
Point Of Entry (POE)
• Temperature and
symptoms screening at
POE
PHYSICAL DISTANCING
• To ensure at least
1m apart between
individuals
• Avoid the 3s/3c
way of seeking consultation and treatment
at clinics and hospitals was to be part of the
move towards the industrial revolution.
The healthcare industry has all the
capabilities to manage patients through a
digital system.
Covid-19, he said, became a catalyst for
the country to create an alteration for the
industry.
In moving towards minimising
crowded places in healthcare, several
options are given to patients; one through
a phone call and coming according to an
appointed time.
Professor Dr Wong Chee Piau
CONTROL OF MOVEMENT
• Avoid high-risk areas
• Use a hotspot tracker
within the MySejahtera
app to identify high-risk
areas
SELF-PROTECTION
• Take care of personal
hygiene
• Wear masks
• 3W (wash, wear, warn)
The second option will be making
appointments through a platform by the
Ministry of Health (MoH), a platform in
collaboration with commercial partners.
The MoH also encouraged the
implementation of a virtual clinic concept
as well as the idea of home services,
including visiting patients.
“The virtual clinic concept is through
video application where a planned
contact is by the healthcare professionals
responsible for care with a patient for
clinical consultation advice and treatment
planning,” said Dr Chong.
But he stressed the most crucial element
in converting to a digital health system is
good internet access. Meantime, the public
must recognise that virtual consultation in
Malaysia is relatively new.
The guidelines and the legalities of the
entire process may require some time to
develop.
“The Malaysian Medical Council
(MMC) is also looking at issues in the
implementation of a virtual concept. There
are still areas where we have to get to the
fine print and put out the details so that
our digital platform can move forward,” he
explained.
Embracing the new normal
In efforts to better implement the new
normal, the MoH has introduced a
new campaign called the Distinct Risk
Reduction Program (DRRP) which aims to
maintain the green States which are free
from Covid-19 and change the yellow States
to green within 14 days.
The campaign was launched by Prime
Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Aug
8, 2020.
“The campaign promotes three main
pillars, namely protecting family members,
protecting the community and protecting
Malaysian regions.
“The success of the DRRP can only be
possible with adherence by individuals,
family and the community to the concepts
of preventing, charity, educate, obey and
monitor,” he added. — The Health
MySejahtera
application for
better control
MySejahtera is an application
developed by the Government of
Malaysia to assist in monitoring the
spread of the Covid-19 pandemic
in the country by enabling users to
perform self-assessment. At the
same time, it helps the MOH) to get
preliminary information and take
quick and effective action.
SAFE: Information in MySJ
is valid Updated info on highrisk
areas through location
detection
SECURE: Inserted personal
data are well-protected
Data clean-up every six weeks
SIMPLE: Check-in within a
click Fully digitalised process