Government orders private hospitals to add Covid-19 beds

KUALA LUMPUR: Private hospitals have been told to increase the number of beds for Covid-19 patients as public healthcare facilities are on the brink of collapse with the rise in infections.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a letter said the facilities liaison officers must ensure the number of beds added are reported to the Private Medical Practice Control Section (CKAPS) in their daily reports.

“All private hospitals treating Covid-19 patients need to increase the number of beds to treat patients.”

He said the maximum number of beds that can be allocated for Covid-19 patients would be based on the capacity of the licensed ward and ICUs (Intensive Care Units).

“Private hospital liaison officers (LO) have to ensure there is an increase in the number of beds in wards and ICUs for Covid-19 patients compared to the previous numbers that were included in daily reports sent to CKAPS,” Dr Noor Hisham said in the letter posted by CKAPS on Twitter.

Earlier Dr Noor Hisham said the measures were paralel to the “ministry’s efforts in bracing for unprecedented circumstances which would plunge the country into a more serious health conflict”.

In the letter addressed to the licence holders and operators of the hospitals yesterday he said their attention and cooperation would be greatly appreciated.

Earlier Dr Noor Hisham said the usage of ICU beds in public hospitals had shown more than 70 per cent increase.

Bed usage for ICUs in central region hospitals was above 100 per cent.

He also said the number of deaths had been on an increasing trend since May 17, with 45 deaths recorded.

Dr Noor Hisham said the number of cases had risen 19.1 per cent compared to before the third Movement Control Order was imposed, with the infectivity rate(Rt) of 1.06 on May 17.

Malaysia logged 6,806 Covid-19 infections on Thursday while active cases breached the 50,000 mark.

There was also a record 59 deaths reported on the day.

Source: NST