Page 143 - COVID-19 COUNTRY REPORT: Moving Beyond Pandemic EDITION 2022

National Institutes of Health

2,798 patients had received long-term rehabilitation medical treatment through inpatient
care, and 6,432 patients had received long COVID rehabilitation medical treatment through
outpatient care in KKM facilities across the country. 30-40% of patients with long Covid can
return to work within three months, while 60-70% can return to work within six months of
infection (40).
The WHO Clinical Management of COVID-19 Living guidelines, which were released in
January 2023, include 16 new recommendations for the rehabilitation of adults with long
COVID, including a strong recommendation that exertional desaturation and cardiac
impairment caused by COVID-19 be ruled out and managed before considering physical
exercise training, as well as 15 conditional recommendations on rehabilitation services and
interventions as well as patient education and skill training (41). On the other hand, the
Malaysian Ministry of Health guideline for post-COVID-19 Management Protocol has yet to
be updated.

6.5 Conclusion
In summary, the management of COVID-19 patients in Malaysia has evolved significantly over
time. The country has adapted to the pandemic by implementing various measures, embracing
discoveries in vaccines and treatments, and adjusting lifestyles. Initially, Malaysia employed a more
centralised approach, addressing all patient categories and levels of the community. However, as
the pandemic progressed, the focus shifted towards a more individualised approach, concentrating
on patients with severe conditions who required dedicated care while encouraging self-monitoring
and minimal direct care for less severe cases.
Post-COVID-19 care has become a priority, particularly for patients suffering from long COVID
complications. The integration of technology into the action plan, combined with multi-agency
collaboration and close coordination between public and private health sectors, has been crucial
in managing the disease and alleviating the burden on the government. Malaysia’s adaptive and Chapter 6
progressive approach demonstrates the importance of continuously evolving strategies in response
to a rapidly changing situation like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chapter 6 -Evolution of COVID-19 Patient Management 133