“The country does not have many rehab physicians and it’s a real gap”, she said at an online forum, Malaysiakini reported.

Jemilah said that while many aspiring doctors opted to become surgeons, very few became experts in occupational health, physical rehabilitation, or geriatric care.

There was a need to invest in training such specialists, she said, as part of reforms to the healthcare system.

Jemilah’s comments were made in a discussion on “Long Covid” victims who require attention from several different specialists.

“Long Covid” refers to those who have recovered from the virus but who continue to display symptoms for 12 weeks or more.

Last month, the health ministry said research on more than 1,000 patients showed that 66% of Covid-19 patients in Category 4 and 5 suffered post-Covid syndromes.

Jemilah also highlighted the potential long-term impact of Covid-19 and HIV on a person’s mental health, partly due to stigmas. “People should be aware they need long-term support,” she was quoted as saying.

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