KUALA LUMPUR: Healthcare facilities in the Klang Valley can still cope with the rising number of Covid-19 cases.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said the government has not yet reached a point where it has to rely on private hospitals, which are themselves stretched for additional resources.
He however acknowledged that a steep rise in cases could affect healthcare facilities.
"Private hospitals offer 1,200 beds nationwide and we admit that the use is increasing, especially in the Klang Valley.
"But our facilities can still cope with the increase in patients. We have not reached a point of desperation as Low Risk Quarantine centres such as that in the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) still has space," he said.
He was responding to a statement from the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh, who said that private hospitals were now facing a shortage of Covid-19 beds.
Dr Kuljit said the people had to be serious about the update and that would somewhat mitigate the transmission of the virus.
Meanwhile, Dr Adham said the 2.0 MAEPS low risk quarantine centre was reactivated in December and has a 9,000 bed capacity, including for those inflicted with Category 3 or 4 of the illness.
He said the Sungai Buloh Hospital and Kuala Lumpur Hospital could also still take in Covid-19 patients in categories 3 and 5, including those who are symptomatic as well as critical.
"We are also implementing the Covid-19 Assessment Centre strategy in every Selangor and Kuala Lumpur district health office where we allow patients within category 1 (non-symptomatic) and 2 (mildly symptomatic) to undergo home quarantine and be treated in their residences."
On cases breaching the 3,000 mark, he said the public has to take a page from the situation in India and ensure that they continue to be vigilant in terms of Standard Operating Procedure compliance.
"The complacency and non-compliance of people there (India) caused them to face a very critical situation. Every day, there is a steep increase in cases until the hospital capacity or burden on the facilities have reached a stagnation point. There is also a dearth in oxygen supplies in a number of places in the country.
"Everyone needs to take lessons from this. We can't afford to face the same situation here. We can't continue to be complacent.
"We also call the public to study the infection trend in the country and why the outbreak appeared in the first place while reducing their movements as it is important for us to look after ourselves."