PHOTO: MAEPS Serdang By MARDI Corp

The Health Ministry is pumping in more resources to bolster healthcare capacity in the Klang Valley in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic as the Malaysian Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) Low Risk Quarantine and Treatment Centre has reached its limit.

The Health Ministry noted that the number of patients referred to MAEPS had greatly increased with the centre now receiving 800 new patients daily on average and 200 Category 4 patients on average.

Of the 5198 beds in MAEPS, the 154 beds allocated for Category 4 patients have exceeded the maximum capacity. The remaining beds for Category 1,2 and 3 patients are also nearing the limit.

Owing to this the Health Ministry announced an immediate increase in the number of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds in government hospitals and teaching hospitals such as adding 20 ICU beds in Hospital Ampang, eight ICU beds and 45 ward beds in Universiti Putra Malaysia teaching hospital.

The Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR) in Klang is to have another 60 beds and extra equipment worth about RM1.1 million to increase its capacity to receive patients. Field hospitals are also to be set up with an additional 50-bed capacity in partnership with the Malaysian Armed Forces in HTAR.

Collaborative efforts will also be undertaken with Hospital Angkatan Tentera Tuanku Mizan in Wangsa Maju to also receive and treat Category 3 and 4 patients. There will also be a temporary redeployment of about 110 healthcare personnel to support MAEPS.

These personnel comprise 75 medical officers, paramedics and drivers from Kedah, Perak and Terengganu as well as 43 medical officers from Klang Valley hospitals.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE