Materia Medica Malaysiana

RM5.5m for SARS fighters

KEPALA BATAS: A total of RM5.5mil will be given within the next two weeks to 9,368 public health employees involved in containing the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, said Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng.

He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad had agreed to his proposal to have the special allowance increased to RM500 a month for support staff and RM1,000 a month for professional staff in recognition and appreciation of their contributions during the crisis.

The special SARS hardship allowance included in the economic stimulus package was initially fixed at RM200 a month for support staff and RM400 for professionals.

“The amount to be paid will be proportionate to the number of days served from March 16 to June 30,” Chua said after visiting the new RM83mil Kepala Batas Hospital here.

“The allowance is not only for the 5,619 personnel involved directly in the SARS treatment but also for the 3,749 staff who were assigned to monitor (the situation) at international entry checkpoints, to investigate SARS cases at homes and hospitals, to monitor contacts who were quarantined, and to conduct prevention and control activities,” he said.

The Cabinet had also directed the ministry to “institutionalise” efforts made at the local, national and international levels to contain the disease, he said, adding that Malaysia was successful in containing the outbreak that had caused 812 deaths in 30 countries.

A model would be formulated based on input from the national committee set up to contain SARS, and it would be used to fight future outbreaks and handle other national crises, he added.