KUALA LUMPUR – In light of the increase in Covid-19 categories 3 to 5 patients at emergency and trauma departments and intensive care units (ICUs), particularly at Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL), the Health Ministry will expand the outsourcing of non-Covid-19 patients to private hospitals, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.
He said the current usage of patient beds, including repurposed beds in Klang Valley hospitals, has now reached more than 85%, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.
He said taking into account the need for extra beds, especially in ICUs, the Health Ministry (MoH) will implement several measures to address the high referral rate to ministry hospitals in the Klang Valley.
Among the steps is to expand the outsourcing of non-Covid-19 patients to private hospitals to enable HKL to treat more virus patients.
In addition, the capacity of ICU and non-ICU beds, including equipment and facilities, such as ventilators, in public hospitals and university teaching hospitals, such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Children's Specialist Hospital (HPKK), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Hospital and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Hospital, will be increased to treat more Covid-19 patients.
“Another step is to provide temporary reassignment (mobilisation) of healthcare personnel comprising medical specialists and paramedics from other states to support services at MoH hospitals and teaching hospitals that need additional staff to treat Covid-19 patients,” he said in a statement today.
Dr Adham said another measure is to optimise the contribution of volunteers and final-year nursing students from MoH training institutes who are undergoing practical training to assist healthcare personnel, such as at vaccination centres (PPVs), while some experienced nurses at PPVs and Covid-19 screening centres will be reassigned to MoH hospitals.
“Through these actions, the MoH hopes that the pressure faced by hospitals treating Covid-19 patients can be reduced and the country can achieve recovery soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Adham said of the total Covid-19 cases being handled by HKL, 71% are category three to five patients, while the remaining are category one and two patients.
Based on the latest records, the HKL emergency and trauma department receives between 60 to 70 Covid-19 patients daily, with an average of three category four and five patients who need respiratory assistance, in addition to needing to be treated in the ICU.
He said the high number of admissions or referrals to the HKL emergency ward will be managed by providing extra beds, while stable Covid-19 patients will be transferred to the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital and nearby Respiratory Medicine Institute.
The increasing number of Covid-19 patients or referrals to MoH hospitals in the Klang Valley is being addressed in a collaboration with Sg Buloh Hospital and the Covid-19 Quarantine and Low-risk Treatment Centre (PKRC) at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (Maeps), which treats Covid-19 patients until they reach category four, when they are then transferred to hospital.
“The MoH is also working with HPKK, UKM, UPM Hospital, UiTM Hospital and the Malaysian Armed Forces Hospital to treat both Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients,” said Dr Adham. – Bernama, July 4, 2021
