Selgate Healthcare has been supporting the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme
Selgate Healthcare Sdn Bhd (Selgate Healthcare), a subsidiary under SELGATE Corporation Sdn Bhd, has been maximising on its ventures in 2021 to provide the full spectrum of healthcare services.
Selgate Healthcare also has been mandated by the Selangor government to implement and manage the Selangor Covid-19 Vaccine Programme (SelVax).
“SelVax works as a support measure to the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP),” explained Tengku Iesta Tengku Alaudin, Group Senior General Manager, Marketing & Communications and Chief Operating Officer, Selgate Healthcare.
SelVax programme
The SelVax programme is two-pronged: SelVax Industry and SelVax Community. Cumulatively, as of Dec 25, 2021, Selgate Healthcare has administered over 600,000 doses.
SelVax Industry is a paid vaccination programme for industries. Meanwhile, the SelVax Community is a free programme under the State.
“For the SelVax Community programme, we have allocated 500,000 doses and have administered close to 370,000 doses. For SelVax Industry, we have administered about 250,000 doses.
“We are currently dispensing free Sinovac booster shots to Selangor residents under the SelVax Booster Programme since Dec 8. A total of 157,000 doses were allocated with 26,419 doses administrated as of Dec 26.”
Individuals aged 18 and above who received two vaccine doses could get their booster jabs at the nearest Selcare clinic.
The list of the Selcare clinics involved in the SelVax Booster Programme is available on the website, https://selcareclinic.com/our-clinic/ or via the SELangkah application.
The public is advised to register first with the SELangkah application and key in the location voucher code to avoid congestion at the clinics involved.
The SelVax Booster Programme were also implemented in certain localities based on requests made by State Assemblymen.
SelVax has moved onto its next phase, which are:
- Enabling bulk purchase of vaccines to private hospitals, clinics and pharmacies;
- Enabling individuals above 18 years old to buy their vaccine doses if they are yet to be vaccinated; and
- Enabling individuals above 18 years old in purchasing their booster doses.
Selgate collaborated with ProtectHealth, the implementer of the involvement of private medical practitioners in NIP, for knowledge sharing and training programmes to manage and execute the State’s vaccination programme.
ProtectHealth provides training for 16 Selgate-owned clinics and more than 1,200 of the group’s panel clinics on an ongoing basis, especially those in Selangor.
Persevering through challenges
While Tengku Iesta acknowledged the challenges along the way, he takes it as a good experience.
“We were in talks with PharmaNiaga earlier in January 2021 for the paid SelVax Industry and the State’s SelVax Community.
“And with all the SELangkah systems and app successfully set up, we were ready to launch the SelVax programme in April 2021.
“The launch was delayed, and we ended up kicking off the SelVax programme on June 26, 2021. The delay in rollout did affect us, but we persevered and innovated along the way.”
Selgate Healthcare opened five vaccination centres (PPVs) between June-September. Selgate also provided on-site vaccination service for the industries, which was favourable among the industry recipients, according to Tengku lesta.
They also provided drive-through vaccination and SelVax Mobile services and opened 16 clinics for both the SelVax Industry and SelVax Community.
At the start of the SelVax programme, there was an issue with the digital vaccination certificate, which did not sync with the MySejahtera system. The problem was addressed, and now the vaccination information and data between SELangkah and MySejahtera system are synced.
Another challenge was during the SelVax Booster programme. The booster vaccination programme was announced earlier than expected, and the response from the public was extremely overwhelming, with long queues at Selcare clinics.
“After such incidents, we had to change our approach from accepting walk-in vaccinees to asking them to pre-register and book a date for getting the booster shot via the SELangkah app.
“It took about a day or two, but once we had integrated the SELangkah system for Booster programme, everything was back to normal and was running smoothly.”
Regarding the massive floods that hit Selangor in December 2021, Tengku Iesta informed that only one Selcare clinic, located at Seksyen 13, Shah Alam, was affected.
“We had to close the clinic for a day. Those who had appointments on that day were either assigned to another clinic or given a new appointment.”
He also commented on the issue of vaccine hesitancy.
“It is mainly due to vaccine efficacy concerns. Social media also fed them with false information.
“Our staff are always proactive by educating the public on the benefits of taking the Covid-19 vaccine at the Vaccine Administration Centres and via our 24-hour call centre.”
Goals and plans
Tengku Iesta shared: “Both the Federal and Selangor governments increased their allocations for the healthcare sector under the 2022 Budget. Strengthening the healthcare system will be the key agenda for 2022 and focusing on the health and wellbeing of the people.
“Selgate Healthcare envisions its position as the fulcrum of Selangor’s healthcare industry specialising in healthcare management including hospitals, clinics and pharmacies with a vision to provide affordable quality care.”
He added that Selgate Healthcare was an integrated healthcare company focused in the private healthcare
sector.
“We are planning to open up more GP clinics and dentals as well as pharmacy outlets.
“Coming soon, our first one-stop healthcare centre in UNISEL Shah Alam will be operating by end of January.
“Occupied with cutting-edge facilities, the centre offers GP clinic, dental, pharmacy and diagnostic lab services under one roof which aim for Selangorians especially those living in Shah Alam.
“Through our engagement with Selangor government, there are still many areas that are underserved in terms of access and affordability, such as GP and dental clinics. We are trying to fill the gap in this market with affordable quality care.
“And for 2022, we foresee many more areas to tap into, such as senior living, assisted living, physiotherapy and rehabilitation services, to complement the whole spectrum of the healthcare system and services.” — The Health
