KUALA LUMPUR: Maybank has committed a sum of RM14 million to two major government hospitals to ensure the continued provision of adequate medical facilities and services to help strengthen Malaysia's healthcare system in coping with the recent surge of COVID-19 patients.

The contribution, to be channelled via MERCY Malaysia's COVID-19 Hospital Surge Capacity Support Programme, will see the deployment of critically needed equipment and personnel to Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) and Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Klang (HTAR), beginning from the fourth week of July 2021.

Maybank chairman Tan Sri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said the programme will be carried out over 20 weeks via a three-pronged approach, namely through the provision of health equipment and supplies; mobilisation of human resources; and technical training including mental health and psychosocial support.

"It will increase in the intensive car unit (ICU) bed capacity for Category 4 and 5 COVID-19 patients by six units in HTAR and 10 units in HKL, as well as an additional 200 COVID-19 patient beds at each of these two hospitals," he said in a statement today.

The programme will also provide critically needed health workers and support staff totalling some 40 personnel for HTAR and 50 for HKL to serve at both their COVID-19 and non-COVID wards, thereby enabling their outpatient departments to reopen and serve all patients.

Zamzamzairani said the initiative will also see more medical staff trained on the proper handling of COVID-19 cases as well as provide a wide range of much needed ICU and non-ICU medical equipment, including for both the hospitals' emergency departments.

Recognising the need to reduce the burnout rate and mental health challenges among frontline health workers, the programme will also provide mental health and psychosocial support services through reliable health management modules and mechanisms, and deliver direct aid to reduce the livelihood burdens of these workers and their family members.

Given the especially acute capacity challenges at HTAR, he said Maybank's contribution will also see the setting up of a temporary field hospital there together with the provision of technical training to the staff to augment the treatment and recovery for COVID-19 patients.

"Our hope is that by working together with the health authorities, MERCY Malaysia and all Malaysians, the sustainability of our nation's healthcare system will be assured, and our hospitals will be better equipped and prepared to face not only the current COVID-19 outbreak, but also other future unexpected pandemics," he said.

Prior to this collaboration with MERCY Malaysia, Maybank group contributed over RM20 million last year to support various COVID-19 relief efforts such as through the provision of medical and personal protective equipment to hospitals, aid for the disadvantaged, provision of washing stations for marginalised communities and supplies of essential kits to health facilities for infection prevention and control.

Meanwhile, MERCY Malaysia president Datuk Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus said the the latest funding is testament to the recognition and trust Maybank has on MERCY Malaysia as a non-profit organisation whereby pre-emptive source of funding is key in delivering emergency humanitarian response.

-- BERNAMA