Govt facilities can be turned into swab test centres during emergency - KSN

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali said it was also among the proposals discussed by the The Emergency Management Technical Committee and was agreed upon by the National Security Council Emergency Session.

The proposals were among the committee’s focuses on the mobilisation of the Federal and State Public Services’ resources, he said in a statement today.

The committee was set up to ensure the smooth implementation of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021. Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021.

Mohd Zuki said the committee, which has to date, convened four times also focuses on the integration of public and private hospital services capabilities during the emergency, to ensure complete and integrated health access for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients are guaranteed.

The integration is also aimed at optimising existing health resources and expertise to provide treatment to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.

Mohd Zuki said the integration would also see public hospitals, including university hospitals, Armed Forces hospitals, and private hospitals operating on a hybrid basis, based on the concept of cluster hospitals under the COVID-19 Integrated Control Centre.

He said the capacity of existing laboratories, especially at government departments and public universities, would be optimised to conduct mass COVID-19 detection.

“The mechanism to cover the treatment costs for COVID-19 patients at private hospitals by insurance companies is being studied by the Finance Ministry, Health Ministry, Bank Negara Malaysia and the insurance industry,” he said.

Mohd Zuki said the role of the private sector would be strengthen to treat COVID-19 patients who can afford their own medical and treatment costs.

He said another focus discussed was the use of National Service Training Programme (PLKN) camps, Kem Bina Negara and other suitable facilities as temporary detention depots for the use of the Prisons Department, Immigration departments, Royal Malaysian Police on rental basis, to ensure physical distancing is maintained.

Sixteen PLKN camps nationwide, have been identified for that purpose, he added.

Mohd Zuki said the Communications and Multimedia Ministry (KKMM) would collect views and feedback from the people on the emergency.

“KKMM will also establish a special channel to ensure accurate information related to the implementation and management of emergency is channelled to the people,” he said.

Mohd Zuki said the committee would continue to monitor matters arising from the emergency proclamation so that the best recommendations can be put forward for consideration of the National Security Council Emergency Session.

He stressed that the public services administration would not be disrupted and would run as usual during the emergency period, to ensure smooth government delivery services with full adherence to the standard operating procedures set.

Mohd Zuki also reminded all Malaysians to always verify the authenticity of any information they received as the spread of unverified information would affect the government’s efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Let us all continue to pray that the COVID-19 pandemic can be fully overcome to protect the prosperity, economic stability and public order,” he said.