KUALA LUMPUR: As of last Thursday, 53.1 per cent or 112 of the total 211 private hospitals nationwide have begun providing treatment for Covid-19 infections.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said the rest of the private hospitals are still in the preparation stage including undergoing the necessary training before they can provide treatment for people tested positive for the virus.
Dr Adham said there were also private hospitals which did not participate in the programme due to limited facilities and challenges in amending the available structures to accommodate to the changes required to provide treatment for Covid-19 patients.
"Through the Emergency Ordinance, the ministry has been working closely with private hospitals since April this year.
"This included the recent move to utilise Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Specialist Children's Hospital as a Covid-19 hospital.
"As of July 1, the number of beds at normal wards and Intensive Care Units (ICU) to treat Covid-19 cases stood at 1,277 and 129 respectively," he said.
Dr Adham was speaking during a virtual press conference after the presentation of a Healthcare Scheme for B40 group (PeKa B40) report today.
It was reported that many Covid-19 patients in critical condition could not be placed in wards, including ICU due to congestion and lack of beds.
Health director general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had said the patients were forced to be placed at emergency and trauma departments at hospitals in the Klang Valley.
The same situation has also affected Category 3 and 4 Covid-19 patients, who need breathing support.
Dr Noor Hisham had also said these categories of patients could only be placed at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (MAEPS) Covid-19 Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centre.
Dr Adham reiterated that the Emergency Ordinance enabled the government to transfer patients for Covid-19 cases and other cases in the Klang Valley to private hospitals.
