TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad has called on the Health Ministry (MOH) to consider setting up temporary hospitals for Category 3 COVID-19 patients.
The two-time former prime minister has proposed that the Malaysian army can set up something similar to a temporary field hospital to accommodate more than 1,000 Category-3 patients.
“Halls in hotels and other buildings can be equipped with beds and oxygen, and a team of doctor and nurses can be dispatched to the locations,” he wrote in his blog.
“The medical team can provide oxygen support or move the patient to a regular hospital if their condition deteriorates.”
Dr Mahathir added that in-person house calls by doctors and nurses for patients in Categories 1 and 2 who are quarantined at home should also be considered, and this way, oxygen support can be provided if these patients’ condition worsens.
The Parti Pejuang Tanah Air chief further noted that the number of COVID-19 deaths have been on the uptick as of late, with many of these being brought-in-dead cases.
“Why is this happening now? This is because of the country’s high infection rate – not everybody who has been infected are admitted to hospitals.”
He pointed out that currently, only critical patients in Categories 4 and 5 who require oxygen and ventilator support are admitted to hospitals while those in Categories 1-3 are only ordered to undergo home quarantine.
“Category 3 patients suffer from lung infection and their condition would deteriorate if not given any treatment,” he remarked.
“Their household members who are not ill can only watch on helplessly as they are not allowed to come in contact with the patient. With no doctor present and with no oxygen supply, the patient’s condition could deteriorate and this could lead to death.”
A total of 20,897 new COVID-19 cases were reported on Tuesday (Aug 31). 282 new fatalities were reported, with 98 of them being brought-in-dead cases. – Sept 1, 2021.
