Malaysia’s Health Systems Response to COVID-19

Zen Yang Ang, Kit Yee Cheah, Md. Sharif Shakirah, Weng Hong Fun, Jailani Anis-Syakira, Yuke-Lin Kong and Sondi Sararaks
Additional contact information
Zen Yang Ang: Institute for Health Systems Research, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
Kit Yee Cheah: Institute for Clinical Research, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
Md. Sharif Shakirah: Institute for Health Systems Research, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
Weng Hong Fun: Institute for Health Systems Research, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
Jailani Anis-Syakira: Institute for Health Systems Research, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
Yuke-Lin Kong: Institute for Health Systems Research, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia
Sondi Sararaks: Institute for Health Systems Research, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Shah Alam 40170, Selangor, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-26

Abstract: This study aimed to highlight the COVID-19 response by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Government of Malaysia in order to share Malaysia’s lessons and to improve future pandemic preparedness. The team conducted a rapid review using publicly available information from MOH, PubMed, and World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Research on Coronavirus Disease Database to compile Malaysia’s responses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures taken between 31 December 2019 and 3 June 2020 were classified into domains as well as the pillars described in the WHO COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (WHO SPRP). Malaysia’s response incorporated all pillars in the WHO SPRP and consisted of five domains, (i) whole-of-government, (ii) cordon sanitaire/lockdown, (iii) equity of access to services and supports, (iv) quarantine and isolation systems, and (v) legislation and enforcement. Some crucial measures taken were activation of a centralised multi-ministerial coordination council where MOH acted as an advisor, with collaboration from non-government organisations and private sectors which enabled an effective targeted screening approach, provision of subsidised COVID-19 treatment and screening, isolation or quarantine of all confirmed cases, close contacts and persons under investigation, with all strategies applied irrespective of citizenship. This was provided for by way of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988. A combination of these measures enabled the nation to contain the COVID-19 outbreak by the end of June 2020.

Keywords: response; measures; strategies; public health; Malaysia; COVID-19; Movement Control Order; lockdown; pandemic; health systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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