A total of 1,771 cases of COVID-19 were recorded among healthcare workers, with 1,359 cases detected during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Health Ministry said that 43 new cases were recorded on Dec 18.
Of those infected, nurses made up the biggest group, with 690 cases recorded. Others cases include medical officers, healthcare assistants, assistant medical officers and graduate medical officers.
The fact that our hospitals have now been affected shows incompetence and gaps at the highest level, Malaysia Asean APEC lead consumerist Datuk Jacob George lamented to FocusM.
“Who dropped the ball, leaving every rakyat more vulnerable than ever before?” he asked.
George urged the Government to set up an independent task force immediately, before the situation gets out of control, and the public has no where to turn to when they get sick.
“We need to go back to the drawing board and readdress issues from the movement of caretakers, staff, auxiliary staff, suppliers, outsources services staff of services, canteen operators and admissions before more harm is caused.
“If the infection cannot be contained, with frontliners and hospitals compromised and ICU beds running out – it will be an international embarrassment when those we trusted fail us, after so much fanfare!” he warned.
He also stressed the inability of an investigation, conducted by the authorities, to pinpoint the source of the outbreak is outrageous.
“Hospitals must remain infection free and under control. They must not be turned into a shopping mall as many are today,” said an irate George.
Talk to your staff, Noor Hisham
Elaborating, he cringed at the fact that some hospitals allow vendors to sell batik shirts, with several other healthcare establishments even offering massage services at its premises.
“Hospitals are not shopping malls. We can’t afford to be lax about letting everyone through. How did we allow such madness?” George queried.
Besides that, he had observed foreign workers loitering around wards when their community is the worst hit with COVID-19 cases.
“If those people are not patients, why are they there? People should only be in hospital wards if they are a patient or certified caretaker,” George opined.
George then challenged Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah to hit the ground and talk to his staff members.
“Talk to first respondents and frontliners and learn about their strengths and weaknesses. They are all tired and working under extreme conditions. You can’t expect them to be hall monitors as well.
Right now, he added, there are three caretakers to one patient, with canteen workers working without gloves and transporters hanging around.
“Let’s call a spade a spade. There is no proper enforcement in hospitals and that is the reason for the rise in infection cases.
“If there has been a mistake or oversight, tell us and we will understand. But whatever it is, bridge the gap and solve this problem immediately,” George concluded. – Dec 20, 2020
