THE Health Ministry will allocate 30% of hospital and intensive care capacity for Covid-19 cases, as more non-coronavirus patients are admitted.

Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the utilisation rate of Covid-19 wards is at less than 15% following a steady decline in infections.

“When there is a decline in cases, we will bring in non-Covid-19 patients.

“We have to see how we can optimise our hospitals. We will earmark at least 30% of (beds) for Covid-19 cases, even if we don’t use the beds,” he told a daily press conference in Putrajaya today.

Currently, there are seven hospitals and 33 hybrid hospitals catering to coronavirus cases.

The ministry has started using district hospitals with operating theatres to serve other patients.

Healthcare personnel have also been transferred from other states to serve in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

“Maybe, we will reduce those staff and mobilise them only when there is a need,” said Dr Noor Hisham.

The ministry previously allocated 5,500 beds in 40 hospitals for Covid-19 patients. – June 7, 2020.