Despite rubber gloves being categorised as essential healthcare gear (PPE) by the World Health Organisation, the Malaysian government has continued to impose the shutdown order for all factories including glove factories in the Enhanced Movement Control zones. Selangor and Wilayah Persekutuan have been under EMCO for two weeks since July 3 which also houses the bulk of the nations glove manufacturing factories.
MARGMA, the association representing rubber glove manufacturers in the country has been inundated with queries from Embassies, hospitals and healthcare sectors from across the World on concerns of glove supplies as worry of stocks are rising with new Covid-19 cases increasing again. President Dr. Supramaniam Shanmugam is seeking for a quick solution to this sudden impasse whereby the Government has imposed a total shutdown in the state of Selangor. The state hosts the largest congregation of medical rubber glove manufacturers and combined, they produce about 58 per cent of all medical examination and sterilized surgical gloves to the World.
Closures have taken the whole industry including the healthcare sector by surprise while Aero industry are allowed to operate its bewildering why glove makers are still outside MITI’s list. WHO and the healthcare industry globally recognises medical glove as Personal Protective Equipment for Infection Control. “It is incomprehensible as surgery and the examination of patients of critical cases cannot be done without donning a pair of protective medical gloves, it is in the healthcare SOP for sure. Healthcare workers must be protected in order to protect humanity.”, added Dr Supramaniam.
A major French healthcare and medical glove distributor, Mr Mathieu Roturier of Euromedis SA had this to say, “Malaysia must perform its obligations to France and to the World to ensure adequate supply of medical gloves to the hospitals. This sudden closure is sending a bad signal that Malaysia is not capable to fulfill its global supply as a leading medical glove producer, it is about responsibility also.”
The President is now pleading with the Malaysian Government and relevant Ministries to immediately reinstate the productivity of all medical glove manufacturers in the state of Selangor. “Notwithstanding, the huge economic losses to the nation, we nevertheless, have a more important duty and responsibility to ensure no disruption to this very essential medical item, for the nation as well as the 195 countries who depend on our supply pipeline. Remember that Malaysia is the undisputed World leader in this field, we do have a duty to perform.”, said Dr Supramaniam.
Meantime, MARGMA in its engagements with the various Ministries, has assured the authorities that it will supervise and monitor its members to observe and to practice the strictest compliance in its workplace on all the SOPs as laid out by the MOH. The body has a special unit that will work MOH in managing and supervising our manufacturers in Selangor. Its members are on the waiting list of vaccination for the entire glove industry employees, via the programs of Mysejahtera, PIKAS, VACOMS and SELVAX. Likewise, its members will ensure all the latest SOPs as stipulated by the authorities, which includes PCR /RTK screenings twice a week on all employees will be carried out at the members’ cost.
