Covid-19 patients take up 36% of beds in Malaysian hospitals so far, says MoH

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 9): The Ministry of Health (MoH) has indicated that Malaysia still has sufficient capacity at its hospitals and quarantine centres, as only 36% of beds at government hospitals are currently in use to treat those infected by Covid-19, amid concerns over the recent spike in the number of active cases.

According to an infographic published by the ministry today, it said 36% of 2,820 beds at government hospitals have been taken up (approximately 1,015 beds), while 29% of 3,975 beds are currently occupied at low-risk treatment and quarantine centres (approximately 1,153 beds).

Meanwhile 6% of 437 beds in intensive care units (ICUs) are currently taken up, equivalent to 26 beds at ICUs in the country, and 37% of 1,505 ventilators are in use, equivalent to 557 ventilators.

It also highlighted that there are six hospitals in Sabah that are treating Covid-19 patients, namely the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Women and Children Sabah Hospital, Tawau Hospital, Lahad Datu Hospital, Duchess of Kent Hospital Sandakan and Keningau Hospital.

Additional wards have also been set up at the Likas Sports Complex, Tawau Sports Complex, Tawau Arena Hall, Tawau Prison Complex, MoH Training Institute in Tawau, Tun Hj Mustapha Hall at Lahad Datu Hospital and Rafflesia Hall at Duchess of Kent Hospital Sandakan.

The ministry published the infographic amid growing concerns over the spike in Covid-19 cases, which has climbed to a record 3,703 cases on Oct 8 — over 1,000 more than the previous peak of 2,596 cases on April 5.

During his national address on Oct 6, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he is confident in the MoH, the frontliners and Malaysia’s healthcare system in curbing the spread of the virus.

He pointed out that MoH has sufficient quantities of ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPE), medication and hospital beds, and said that the nation’s healthcare system is even better equipped to deal with the spread of Covid-19 in the community, as compared to before.

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