KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry will be addressing the issue of fake Covid-19 vaccination digital certificates at a press conference this Thursday.
It is understood that Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar is expected to attend the question and answer session with the media on Jan 20.
Among the issues expected to be raised include whether the Health Ministry will review or audit private general practitioner (GP) clinics registered with ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd (ProtectHealth).
The matter was raised following reports that a clinic in Gombak had allegedly issued digital certificates without vaccinating the individuals who came for their Covid-19 vaccine appointment.
ProtectHealth is a non-profit company under the Health Ministry to oversee the participation of medical practitioners in the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme (NIP) and ensure that Covid-19 vaccines are widely distributed and accessible to more people.
Yesterday, Selangor police chief Datuk Arjunaidi Mohamed said police detected a private clinic in Gombak suspected of issuing Covid-19 vaccination certificates at RM500 each to customers without being vaccinated.
He added that the clinic would empty the content of the vaccine and return the empty bottles to the Health Ministry to show that the vaccine had been used.
On Jan 8, police arrested a doctor in Terengganu on suspicion of selling 1,900 vaccine certificates including to those outside the state.
On Jan 12, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani ordered a thorough investigation on any activities involving the sale of fake Covid-19 vaccination certificates among medical practitioners in the country.