MOH increases bed capacity in COVID-19 hospitals, PKRC

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has increased bed capacity in hospitals and COVID-19 Low-risk Quarantine Treatment Centres (PKRC) to 11,076 to ensure the country's healthcare system is able to deal with COVID-19.

Its Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said the number included 3,505 beds at 43 COVID-19 hospitals and 7,571 beds at 46 PKRC nationwide compared to 2,820 beds (at hospitals) and 3,975 beds (at PKRC) on Oct 6.

"The nationwide bed usage level for COVID-19 cases is currently under control namely at 45 per cent for hospitals and 37 per cent at PKRC," he said in a statement today.

Dr Adham said in Sabah alone, MOH provided 5,276 beds for COVID-19 cases, an increase of 53 per cent compared to the number of beds on Oct 5.

He said 16 PKRC in Sabah are now ready to begin operation adding that MOH had also mobilised 140 medical officers and 225 assistant medical officers to assist medical frontliners hospitals, health clinics, district health offices at the state.

"MOH is also working with the Defence Ministry to set up a field hospital (in Tawau) which has the capacity of 100 beds, transport COVID-19 samples (from Sabah) to the peninsula as well as bringing 75,000 the Antigen Rapid Test Kit (RTK-Ag) and other medical equipment to the state," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Adham said MOH did not depend solely on the COVID-19 infectivity rate or R-naught in making a more pragmatic analyses and strategic planning.

He said MOH experts from various levels would look at all relevant aspects including in the infectivity rate, mortality rate, bed usage capacity, characteristics of COVID-19 clusters and spatial correlation values.

"Health and safety of the people are the government's priority and MOH will continue to step up integrated efforts with various parties to contain COVID-19," he said.