MIRI - Several private hospitals in Sarawak have begun taking in Covid-19 patients, a move welcomed by the state Disaster Management Committee (SDMC).
SDMC adviser Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said that the initiative by private hospitals to accept Covid-19 positive patients who are willing to pay for treatment will go a long way to reduce the burden on government hospitals.
The high number of transmissions caused by the Delta variant in the state needs to be tackled with the concerted effort of public and private hospitals, said Dr Sim.
“All private hospitals in Sarawak are already playing their roles in helping with diagnostic PCR tests and the rolling out of Covid-19 vaccinations in the spirit of Sarawak’s solidarity, and united war against the pandemic.
“During the peak of the Covid-19 earlier this year, the demand for ICU beds and ventilators were higher than today, and public hospitals in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri had to repurpose spaces and facilities with additional ICU beds to cope with the additional critically sick patients.
“With the current Delta variant, we should always be prepared in case there are not enough ICU beds.
“I am happy that some of the private hospitals in Sarawak are finally ready, stepping up and moving forward to the next level of professional and moral responsibility as medical professionals in accepting private Covid-19 positive patients who choose to be treated in private hospitals.”
“We are in this war against Covid-19 together,” he said in his social media updates.
Dr Sim, who is state housing and local government minister, said that the Delta variant is the reason for the current wave of infections, which continues to cause a surge in cases.
“The rakyat too must play their role to reduce the transmission rate.
“We don’t want our hospitals to be overwhelmed again.
“Everyone must still adhere to all SOPs even after they are fully vaccinated.”
Sarawak has been seeing a daily high increase in positive coronavirus cases and deaths over the past few months. It also has the highest number of Delta variant infections in the country.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak researchers had last month found that almost 100% of new Covid-19 patients in the state were infected by the Delta strain,
This state has recorded 739 deaths and some 194,000 positive cases state-wide as of yesterday evening. – The Vibes, September 25, 2021
