PHOTO: Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad

The Greater Klang Valley special task force has been given the mandate to make quick decisions on behalf of the Health Ministry as Covid-19 cases continue to soar especially in the Klang Valley region which has the highest rate of infections in the country.

Giving wider powers to the task force means resources can be deployed in the fastest way possible to provide relief for the healthcare system that is being weighed down and reaching breaking point.

Over the last few days the task force has been busy visiting areas in the Klang Valley that are experiencing a high number of Covid-19 cases and they are identifying problems such as issues related to manpower, bed capacity and equipment.

The task force is taking a four-prong approach such as working with external experts, working with the economic sector, empowering the public to follow all SOPs and the most urgent being to accelerate the process of  vaccination.

There will also be a financial and morale booster for resource-strapped hospitals, a special payout for ICU staff, daycare centres for the children of frontliners and funds for the purchase of additional healthcare equipment.

The Health Ministry has already spent RM700 million so far on the Covid-19 pandemic and will allocate a further RM100 million to outsource non-Covid-19 cases to private hospitals in order to free up more beds in public hospitals.

Another RM20 million will be spent on mental health management and a special allowance of RM 1,000 is to be spent on each ICU staff. Besides this the ministry is to spend RM5 million to add 151 beds and 15 ventilators to Hospital Tuanku Ampuan Rahimah as well as allocate RM2 million to set up a special quarantine centre for frontliners.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE