KUALA LUMPUR: A 27-bedded field intensive care unit (ICU) will be set up in Penang earliest by next week to accommodate the sudden increase in critical Covid-19 cases in the state.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said based on the analysis of the current pandemic situation in Penang, there was an urgent need to set up a 'Field ICU' at the Kepala Batas Hospital dedicated to treating critical patients.
This, he said, was timely due to the increasing rate of Covid-19 ICU bed utilisation in Penang hospital which had reached more than 100 per cent.
He said the ministry also found that the trend of patient admissions to the ICU in Penang had increased by more than 45 per cent over the past two weeks.
This trend, he said, was expected to continue, especially when there were new clusters involving nursing homes and others.
"Our clinicians voiced their feeling of helplessness and frustration struggling to secure ICU beds for their patients in these unprecedented times.
"A very sad truth, overwhelmed for more ICU beds every single day, not only for Covid-19 patients but also for many critical non-Covid-19 cases. All elective surgeries were postponed and semi-emergency cases referred either to hybrid or non-Covid hospitals.
"The health ministry is working closely with the Defence Ministry to establish field ICU to increase our ICU beds capacity.
"We hope to run this 27 bedded ICU in Kepala Batas Hospital, Penang, to meet the increasing demand of Covid-19 patients by next week."
He shared this on his Facebook page today after an official visit to the Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital for the 'Dry Run Field ICU' session, which will later be set up at the Kepala Batas Hospital.
Dr Noor Hisham said the 'Field ICU' will use a modular concept where it can treat up to 27 critical Covid-19 patients who would require respiratory assistance.
There will also be other 'life support' equipment such as dialysis machines for patients who suffer from kidney failure due to Covid-19 infection, and 'infusion pumps' to support heart function, he noted.
"The Armed Forces will also set up a modular laboratory and a modular radiology unit to provide clinical support services to critically-ill patients housed in this 'Field ICU'.
"I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation and many thanks especially to General Tan Sri Commander of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Director General of Health Services, and the entire staff of Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital for all the cooperation given to the health ministry to build the 'Field ICU' at Kepala Batas Hospital.
"Hopefully, all these efforts can help the ministry ensure the best treatment is given to critical Covid-19 patients in Kepala Batas and surrounding areas, thereby reducing the death rate due to Covid-19 in Malaysia.
Following the 'dry run' session at the Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital, Dr Noor Hisham said a briefing was conducted by the Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters-Health Services Division Medical Director, Maj. Jen. Datuk Dr Mohammad Amirrudin Hamdan in preparation for the launch of the 'Field ICU' set-up.
He added that the session was also attended by a delegation from the health ministry's Medical Programme and the Engineering Services Division.
As of May 16, Penang recorded a total of 23,778 Covid-19 positive cases since the start of the pandemic, including the 187 cases reported in the past 24 hours.