THE Penang government has sought the Federal Government’s help to deploy extra medical staff to the state as well as direct private hospitals to increase its bed capacity to 30% in the fight against Covid-19.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he hoped that new Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin would do so as the number of cases in the state has soared over the past two weeks, putting the public healthcare system under severe stress.
“I hope this will be considered by the new health minister in taking a whole of society and whole of government approach.
“It’s time for the private hospitals to increase their bed capacity for Covid-19 patients. They have been doing a lot, but if they can increase their bed capacity, this will take away some pressure from the public hospitals.
“The public healthcare system in the state is under its greatest pressure in the past two weeks.
“According to the state Health Department, we have now entered the mitigation phase to reduce the loss of life and prevent the public medical system from being completely paralysed,” Chow said during a press conference on the Covid-19 status in Komtar today.
While stressing the need for continued effort to increase oxygen beds, Chow also asked the Federal Government to send medical personnel to help states, like Penang, Kedah and Perlis which are struggling to cope with the increase of cases.
“This requires resources, particularly human resources. When Klang Valley was having a surge in cases, Penang also had sent medical personnel there to help when requested.
“Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the state government has spent about RM180 million to help provide medical equipment to hospitals, provide logistic arrangements, establish low-risk Covid-19 treatment centre and Covid-19 vaccination centres, provide assistance to security forces, roll out Penang People’s Aid Packages, conduct PSC-19 mass screening programme among others,” Chow added.
He added that the state government is also discussing with hotels to increase quarantine facilities for Category 1 and 2 patients.
Talking about ICU beds, the Penang Hospital head of Emergency & Trauma Department Dr Kwanhathai Darin Wong said all the 70 ICU beds in the state’s public hospitals have been occupied.
She advised those under quarantine at home or hotel but have developed symptoms to call the call centre at 04-3827142 or 04-3827143. If the symptoms worsen such as shortness of breath, they are to call 999 for ambulance.
State Health Department deputy director Dr Rafidah Md Noor, who was also present, said in addition to Penang Hospital and Kepala Batas Hospital, the Seberang Jaya Hospital and Bukit Mertajam Hospital have been recently turned to treat Covid-19 patients.
“This brings the total of non-critical hospital beds to 876 and ICU beds to 70 for Covid-19 patients,” she said in her speech.
Dr Rafidah said as at Aug 29, the cumulative number of Covid-19 positive cases in Penang is 82,979 with 73,081 recovered cases. There are still 9,333 active cases. The virus has killed 565 people in the state.
She advised the public to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs), like wearing face masks, observing physical distancing, avoiding crowded and narrow areas, and also encouraged the people to get vaccinated.
Also present at the press conference were State Secretary Datuk Seri Abdul Razak Jaafar, state Agrotech and Food Security, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin, Penang Chief Police Officer Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, and National Security Council Penang director Nazrul Fazami Mohamad.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar
Video by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis