Kepala Batas Hospital to get 27 more ICU beds with field ICU

GEORGE TOWN: The Field ICU at Kepala Batas Hospital which is being set up by the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) will provide an additional 27 ICU beds in Penang.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said meetings involving various relevant agencies had been held and they were now looking at the needs of the hospital.

"We are studying and looking at the needs including electricity supply, mechanical supply and medical equipment. A budget of RM2.038 million has been identified for the construction of this Field ICU," he told reporters here today.

Chow said he had been informed that the Field ICU would be completed and operational in the near future.

On Sunday, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah announced that there was an urgent need to create a 'Field ICU' dedicated to treating critically ill patients due to the increasing rate of COVID-19 ICU bed occupancy in Penang hospitals which have exceeded 100 per cent.

CHOW-ICU 2 (LAST) GEORGE TOWN

According to Dr Noor Hisham, the Field ICU which will be set up at Kepala Batas Hospital will use a modular concept that can treat up to 27 critical COVID-19 patients who need respiratory assistance and other life support equipment.

Penang Health Department director Datuk Dr Asmayani Khalib when contacted said a meeting was held at Kepala Batas Hospital yesterday on the construction of the Field ICU.

She said Penang is in dire need of a Field ICU after ICU bed occupancy in hospitals reached 100 per cent on May 11.

"Our team is working hard to complete the Field ICU as soon as possible," she said.

-- BERNAMA