GEORGE TOWN – Penang needs more field hospitals, with the state fast-running out of intensive care unit (ICU) beds.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said that ICU bed utilisation in Penang is currently at 96.6%.
“This puts the state as the second highest for ICU bed utilisation in the country.”
The Bagan MP proposed that Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin look into setting up more field hospitals here with more ICU beds.
“With ICU bed utilisation at 96.6%, Khairy should consider building more field hospitals with ICU beds in Seberang Jaya, Nibong Tebal and Balik Pulau.
“Khairy can draw on the extra RM5 billion allocated to his ministry as part of the RM45 billion to fight Covid-19 and the economic recession.
“This was stated in the memorandum of understanding signed between the federal government and Pakatan Harapan (PH) on September 15.
“The additional RM5 billion can help to not only conduct mass test screening nationally but also increase manpower by taking contract doctors on a permanent basis and improving health support services, such as ICU beds.
“This will help to increase the survival rates of Category 5 Covid-19 patients at public hospitals,” he said in a statement.
He added that Penang folk are grateful for a field hospital comprising 96 ordinary beds and four ICU beds at Penang General Hospital’s car park, which will be ready this Thursday.
A total of 300 non-Covid-19 patients from public hospitals have also been transferred to private hospitals to make more room for Covid-19 patients in public hospitals.
“Penang Covid-19 Coordinator Steven Sim and the Penang government’s head of Covid-19 emergency response team Phee Boon Poh have also taken measures to improve the quality of service at low-risk quarantine centers (PKRC) and Covid Assessment Centres (CAC), as well as increase the number of ICU beds and ventilators with the assistance of both Khairy and Penang Health Ministry officials.”
Lim said the Covid-19 spread appears to be slowing down as the infectivity rate has dropped to below 1.0.
“That said, Penang is still one of the worst affected (state) with the highest number of deaths at 18 per 100,000 people.
“It has the second highest number of cases per capita in the country. Penang also recorded the second highest utilisation of ventilators and ICU beds at 73.3% and 96.6%, respectively – all this despite 56.8% of its residents being fully vaccinated and 72.7% completing their first dose.” – The Vibes, September 19, 2021
