GEORGE TOWN – The chances of private hospitals providing beds at their intensive care units (ICUs) for Covid-19 patients to cover for bed shortages at public wards is highly unlikely.
Besides requiring a special order from the Health Ministry compelling private hospitals to do so, there is also the issue of cost and the manpower of private hospitals to be considered.
A senior surgeon at a government hospital when contacted said the chances of private hospitals offering ICUs to treat Covid-19 patients are almost nil, due to several factors including costs and manpower at private hospitals.
“Private hospitals charge exorbitant fees, and they need more manpower in the caring of Covid-19 patients.
“Another issue is that people would avoid private hospitals that have taken in Covid-19 patients.
“Most private hospitals would have a maximum of between five and 10 beds in their ICUs, and they will not have adequate manpower to handle patients compared to that of government hospitals,” he said on condition of anonymity.
He also said private hospitals charge between RM1,000 and RM5,000 per day for patients at their ICUs, which are currently in high demand since government hospitals are operating at full capacity.
“Currently, there are two categories of government hospitals: those handling Covid-19 patients and those handling non-Covid-19 patients.
“The ICUs at non-Covid-19 hospitals are also at full capacity.
“The surge in Covid-19 cases have resulted in government hospitals treating Covid-19 patients reaching full capacity, so how can private hospitals handle Covid-19 patients at their ICUs?” he asked.
However, one way private hospitals can help the government is by accommodating non-Covid-19 cases under its corporate social responsibility programme by charging minimal fees to the government.
“The burden on government hospitals can be reduced if private hospitals can accommodate non-Covid-19 patients until Covid-19 cases are reduced to a manageable level.
“Private hospitals can do this as their duty to the nation,” he said.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations vice-president Datuk K. Koris Atan urged the government to include private hospitals in its National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to help attain herd immunity in the country.
“The government should not segregate hospitals. They should allow private hospitals to vaccinate people so that we can reach our target.”
Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has indicated that the enhanced movement control order may need to be extended to other districts besides Kota Setar, including Kubang Pasu.
He said the surge in the number of Covid-19 cases is worrying due to the current limitations of healthcare facilities.
Meanwhile, a recent tour trip to Genting Highlands led to a new cluster, where at least 16 people tested positive for the coronavirus.
State Local Government and Healthcare Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Hayati Othman said participants went to Genting Highlands by bus in mid-April and began testing positive on April 30.
As of May 7, 16 of the 28 participants had tested positive.
“These positive cases are placed under the Dah Lengkuas cluster since many of them are residents of Taman Lengkuas in Simpang Empat.
“After returning from the trip, the participants underwent Covid-19 screening. Seven people tested positive initially,” he said. – The Vibes, May 21, 2021
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