From Chong Wu Ling
The request by the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) for approval to procure and dispense Covid-19 vaccines from other sources has drawn both agreement and criticism.
While the Penang government shares the view that the procurement of vaccines by private hospitals will help expedite the vaccination process, human rights NGO Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has spoken against it by arguing that it will lead to an increase in the price of vaccines available and it will be even more difficult for the poor to have access to the vaccines.
Such a private vaccination scheme is not entirely something new. For instance, the governments of India and Indonesia had earlier allowed private vaccination schemes to run along with their national programmes.
In India, private hospitals will assist in the second phase of the country’s vaccination plan which involves the inoculation of residents above 60 years and those over 45 with comorbidities by levying up to 250 rupees (approximately US$3.40) per person per dose.
In Indonesia, the government allowed private companies to buy vaccines and inoculate staff and their families for free at private health centres. The vaccines are distributed by Bio Farma, Indonesia’s state-owned pharmaceutical company, and they must differ from the current rollout. The companies that place orders have to bear the cost of the vaccines.
No doubt private vaccination schemes have a few advantages. First, it will certainly help reduce the long wait for vaccination among those who can afford to pay.
Second, it also allows recipients to choose the vaccine that they want, which is impossible under the government rollout. Allowing recipients to decide on their choice of vaccine will certainly encourage more people who can afford to pay to get vaccinated.
In addition, private vaccination schemes can prevent black markets for illegal Covid-19 vaccines.
But if the schemes are not regulated properly, it will certainly lead to a rise in the price of vaccines and only the wealthy will be able to get vaccinated soon. This will “weaken social solidarity”, as Suaram noted.
This disadvantage can be overcome if the government sets a cap on the charges imposed by private hospitals. In addition, private vaccination schemes should not disrupt the current government rollout.
Getting as many residents to be vaccinated as soon as possible is crucial to achieve herd immunity. If private vaccination schemes are regulated properly, there is no harm allowing them to run along with the government rollout.
Chong Wu Ling is a senior lecturer in the Department of Southeast Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.