KUALA LUMPUR – The government has spent RM593 million on additional medical equipment to combat the Covid-19 pandemic since last year.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (Rembau-BN) said the country obtained a further RM148 million worth of equipment thanks to local and foreign donations.
“The equipment is to ensure we are able to treat critical Covid-19 cases,” he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
“It includes ICU beds, ventilators, vital sign monitors and oxygen cylinders.”
Asked by Teo Nie Ching (Kulai-PH) if the Health Ministry has plans to increase manpower at hospitals given the increase in bed capacity, Khairy said the ministry will rotate medical personnel based on requirements.
“This is why the ministry ordered the formation of the National Rapid Response Task Force, where we deploy personnel anywhere in the country where there is a rise in cases.
“So, we will rotate our medical personnel to ensure there is enough manpower in states seeing an increase in infections, and to ensure frontliners don’t experience burnout.”
On whether the ministry plans to implement permanent coronavirus-only treatment facilities in each state, he said there are no such plans as yet.
The ministry will, for now, maintain the current Covid-19 and hybrid hospitals. – The Vibes, September 22, 2021
