PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Government has agreed to provide RM500 million in additional allocation to the Health Ministry in its efforts to prevent Covid-19 from further escalating in the country.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the additional allocation would enable the ministry to procure additional equipment such as ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as equipment and facilities needed for intensive care unit (ICU) and Covid-19 screening laboratories.
“The government has approved this emergency procurement procedures to hasten the procurement of these critical items,” said Muhyiddin in a press conference today.
He also announced that the government has set aside RM100 million for the Health Ministry to make 2,000 new appointments especially nurses on contractual basis in the fight against Covid-19.
The government, he said, is aware that many nurses and hospital staff are tired from working day and night performing Covid-19 infection screening and treatment to those who tested positive for the infection.
“I hope the new appointments could be made immediately to ensure hospitals in the country have sufficient number of workers to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” he said.
