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Review
. 2021 Oct 22;18(21):11109.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph182111109.

Malaysia's Health Systems Response to COVID-19

Zen Yang Ang  1 , Kit Yee Cheah  2 , Md Sharif Shakirah  1 , Weng Hong Fun  1 , Jailani Anis-Syakira  1 , Yuke-Lin Kong  1 , Sondi Sararaks  1
Affiliations
Review

Malaysia's Health Systems Response to COVID-19

Zen Yang Ang et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

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: COVID-19; Malaysia; Movement Control Order; health systems; lockdown; measures; pandemic; public health; response; strategies.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funding body has no role in the design of the study, data collection and interpretation, and in writing the manuscript. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript.

Figures

Figure A1
Figure A1
Whole of government and whole of society approach taken by Malaysia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. # Numbers in parentheses denote WHO Pillars. * Measures implemented: (i) before the first wave (31 December to 24 January) indicated in blue, (ii) during the first wave (25 January–26 February) indicated in orange, and (iii) during the second wave (27 February onwards) indicated in red.
Figure A2
Figure A2
The types and differences of lockdown implemented by Malaysia during the COVID-19 pandemic. # Numbers in parentheses denote WHO Pillars. * Measures implemented: (i) before the first wave (31 December to 24 January) indicated in blue, (ii) during the first wave (25 January–26 February) indicated in orange, and (iii) during the second wave (27 February onwards) indicated in red.
Figure A3
Figure A3
Isolation and quarantine systems employed by Malaysia. # Numbers in parentheses denote WHO Pillars. * Measures implemented: (i) before the first wave (31 December to 24 January) indicated in blue, (ii) during the first wave (25 January 26 February) indicated in orange, and (iii) during the second wave (27 February onwards) indicated in red.
Figure A4
Figure A4
Equity of access to services and support provided by Malaysian government during the COVID-19 pandemic. # Numbers in parentheses denote WHO Pillars. * Measures implemented: (i) before the first wave (31 December to 24 January) indicated in blue, (ii) during the first wave (25 January–26 February) indicated in orange, and (iii) during the second wave (27 February onwards) indicated in red.
Figure A5
Figure A5
Relevant laws and regulations enforced by Malaysia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. # Numbers in parentheses denote WHO Pillars. * Measures implemented: (i) before the first wave (31 December to 24 January) indicated in blue, (ii) during the first wave (25 January–26 February) indicated in orange, and (iii) during the second wave (27 February onwards) indicated in red.
Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow diagram illustrating document search and selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Key events and reported COVID-19 cases in Malaysia.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Whole of government and whole of society approach taken by Malaysia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. # Numbers in parentheses denote WHO Pillars.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Targeted screening results for 12 identified high-risk groups as of 19 June 2020.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Equity of access to services and support provided by the Malaysian government during the COVID-19 pandemic. # Numbers in parentheses denote WHO Pillars.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Relevant laws and regulations enforced by the Malaysia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. # Numbers in parentheses denote WHO Pillars.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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