[UPDATED] Kedah hospitals buckling under Covid-19 surge, state moots hybrid treatment centres

ALOR STAR – Kedah hospitals are struggling to keep up with the surge in daily Covid-19 cases as authorities move to convert seven facilities into hybrid treatment centres.

State Health Director Dr Othman Warijo said five district hospitals including the main ones here and Sg Petani are coping, for now.

The hybrid facility conversion means only essential treatment is accorded at the hospitals, while those with minor ailments or require follow-up treatment are referred to district health clinics or private facilities, he added.

“We encourage those who are not in critical condition to seek treatment at district health clinics so we can focus on Covid-19 cases.”

The two main hospitals are Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital in Sg Petani and Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital here.

Othman said there are plans to convert one hospital into a full-fledged Covid-19 facility.

Kedah has also informed the seven private hospitals in the state to be on standby to accept non-Covid-19 patients from the public hospitals here.

Yesterday the state logged 937 cases, the third highest in the country.

Meanwhile, Kedah has been promised more Covid-19 vaccine supplies next week to help boost vaccination rates.

Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the state will prioritise inoculation rates in its 10 districts, except for Langkawi which has the highest jab rate in Kedah.

“We will deploy more resources to bring down the infection rates.”

Among the measures Kedah has proposed is for an enhanced movement control order (EMCO) to be imposed at a construction site in Pendang.

Vaccinations will continue in Bukit Malut and Pulau Tuba in Langkawi with the cooperation of the community leaders to check the infection rates there.

Kedah will also supply 200 oximeters to Covid-19 patients who are in home quarantine.

Another vaccination centre (PPV) will be opened in Sg Petani, while the Public-Private Partnership Covid-19 Industry Immunisation Programme (Pikas) will start with a centre at the Minebea factory.

Another Pikas centre will be established in Kubang Pasu soon, said Sanusi.

He added that Dewan Warisan in Jitra, Kubang Pasu, will be converted into a low-risk Covid-19 treatment and quarantine centre while a new PPV will be set up in Baling. The one in Padang Serai will be upgraded to allow residents from Kulim to go for their jabs.

A mobile vaccination unit will be deployed in all districts to serve those who are unable to visit PPVs for their jabs.

The state is also aiming to improve its vaccination registration rate.

The state ranks among the lowest for vaccine registration at 74%, but it is faring better than Sabah and Kelantan, which are at 37% and 59%, respectively.

Sanusi said that the state will bear the costs of treating patients confined at the quarantine station at Institut Aminuddin Baki, Jitra. – The Vibes, July 24, 2021