KUALA LUMPUR – Following record numbers of daily Covid-19 cases recently, the Health Ministry has announced the setting up of an integrated hospital at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) by January 24 to treat patients in Categories 3, 4 and 5.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said today that the MAEPS 2.0 low-risk treatment centre, meanwhile, will be ready by Monday to house 10,000 Covid-19 patients in Categories 1 and 2.
Currently, the facility at MAEPS is used to house patients from Johor, Melaka and Negri Sembilan, as well as the Klang Valley.
Adham said the hospital in Hall B will be completed with equipment for intensive care units, ventilators, infectious disease experts and anaesthesiologists.
The location is currently used to house female patients.
“This integrated hospital will be used to treat patients who were in categories 1 and 2, then deteriorated to categories 3 and 4.
“We will try our best to stabilise critical patients before sending them to Serdang Hospital or other nearby hospitals for treatment.
“This is why we need infectious disease experts and anaesthesiologists to handle the critical patients.”
He told Berita Harian that the 30 beds for critical patients will be placed in the centre of the hall while 1,040 beds for patients in categories 1 and 2 will be placed around them.
He added that the ministry will implement a “step down care” protocol amid the third wave of the pandemic.
This approach, he said, will see patients in categories 1 and 2 who recover earlier than expected be taken to MAEPS 2.0.
“From the reports we have been receiving, there are patients who have more severe symptoms recover faster in the hospital.
“The MAEPS 2.0 will also house patients from Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Kuala Lumpur dan Putrajaya.” – The Vibes, January 16, 2021
