PRIVATE hospitals are having difficulty in admitting COVID-19 patients as they are reaching their maximum capacity.
“In the last 14 days, there has been a steep acceleration of COVID-19 patients in the private hospitals, occupying all the designated beds at the wards. Even the isolated ICU beds are constantly filled up.
“Recently, most private hospitals are not able to accept any more COVID- 19 patients, particularly in the Klang Valley,” Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said, in a statement.
When the Government proclaimed the Emergency back in February, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that private clinics and hospitals would be roped in to help combat the pandemic, as public healthcare facilities were getting overwhelmed.
At the time, private healthcare players welcomed the move and promised to assist to the best of their ability.
However, many have criticised the Government relaxing rules under the current movement control order (MCO), including former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, as they fear it may not help contain the spread of the pandemic.
Touching on the matter, Kuljit said that private hospitals are constrained in terms of the number of beds and ICU facilities to accommodate COVID-19 patients, with the limited availability of specialists and nurses compounding to the problem.
Adhere to the SOPs, please
With that, Kuljit implored the public to be responsible and adhere strictly to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the Government.
“Our biggest fear would be if we face a healthcare shut-down due to non-availability of beds and oxygen treatment for our citizens.
“Therefore, we urge the Government decant COVID-19 patients to private hospitals as an immediate step.
“This will create space for patients in public hospitals at the agreed cost accepted last year, fully-funded by the Government,” he mentioned.
On related matter, Kuljit highlighted that private hospitals have actively assisted the Government in co-managing the pandemic in many different ways.
“We conducted private screening of COVID-19 using Rapid and RTK-PCR, providing ventilators to Government hospitals, offering dialysis slots and currently, vaccinating private healthcare workers and soon the public.
“Besides that, private hospitals have assisted the Government in registration for the National Immunisation Programme, while providing information on COVID-19 vaccines to our patients,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, Najib lashed out at the Government for the recent turn of events, saying the Government had failed to take the right steps to contain the pandemic since the start of this year.
“I have voiced my objection against the half-baked second MCO. I wanted the Government to impose a strict lockdown for at least two weeks, like the first MCO last year, so that we can contain COVID-19.
“But the Government allowed factories and the construction sector to operate as usual despite recording the highest number of COVID-19 clusters,” he said.
The Pekan MP added that Malaysia needed a “short and sharp” measure, as short-term pain is better than having to suffer a prolonged agony.
“However, I was accused of being a sore loser due to my court cases instead of addressing the issues I mentioned,” he stated.
Najib said that there is little can be done at this juncture, apart from getting private hospitals to increase their capacity, including asking local oxygen tank suppliers to increase output.
“I just pray that what happened in India doesn’t happen here too,” Najib stated. – April 29, 2021.
Photo credit: FMT
