A SHORTAGE of personal protection equipment (PPE) has left health personnel on the front lines of the battle against Covid-19 concerned about their health, several doctors told The Malaysian Insight.

The Malaysian Insight understands that Sg Buloh Hospital, a designated centre for Covid-19 treatment, is facing a shortage of supplies in certain PPE items.

However, the shortage is not due to the lack of funds but shortage of supply from manufacturers.

A doctor told The Malaysian Insight on the condition of anonymity that frontline workers have to change their PPE suits once or twice per shift depending on the patient load.

“For example, if the Covid-19 ward has 40 patients, you review all patients, then only you change. If you cannot stand the heat (especially in the middle of the day), then you leave and someone goes in for you,” he said.

The doctor also said that healthcare professionals in certain hospitals treating Covid-19 patients have resorted to DIY (do it yourself) methods to make PPEs, such as face shields, due to the shortage.

Another doctor, who also declined to be named, said the lack or PPEs, especially face masks, is worrisome.

The doctor said healthcare professionals are limited to one face mask a day.

“We are limited to one face mask a day. We have to write our names in a register book once we take a face mask.

“Not more than one face masks is allowed per day. So, it has been quite difficult,” the doctor said, adding a face mask can only be used for three to four hours.

Meanwhile, a source told The Malaysian Insight that the situation at Penang General Hospital was nearing a critical level.

Since there are not enough wards to accommodate patients who have tested positive for Covid-19, some wards are being shifted to Seberang Jaya Hospital on the mainland, while intensive care units at the hospital are being designated for Covid-19 cases.

The source also said that most elective operations have been postponed and only emergency cases are being looked into.

Dr Ko Chung Sen, who is also Kepayang state assemblyman, said in a statement today that the demand for face masks has skyrocketed.

He said doctors and hospitals are finding it hard to acquire face masks these days.

“Suppliers are now also asking for ever higher prices from hospitals and doctors, knowing very well there is a more hungry market out there,” he said.

“One of the reasons why the face masks are not reaching hospitals, doctors and nurses is that suppliers are selling them to the public, who are prepared to pay premium price for them, openly, or in the black market,” he added.

Dr Ko urged the government to take full control of the 10 million face mask supply from China and ensure that it reaches essential frontline workers and hospitals and is not exploited by the “profiteering black market”.

The government has ramped effort to stop the spread of the deadly virus by ordering a 14-day movement control order that began last Wednesday.

This morning, a doctor became the country’s first healthcare provider to succumb to the coronavirus, taking the nation’s death toll to nine.

The 48-year-old doctor has a history of travelling to Turkey.

The victim was admitted to Hospital Tuanku Fauziah in Kangar, Perlis, on Tuesday after experiencing symptoms of severe acute respiratory infection.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the source of infection was linked to overseas travel.

Health authorities suspect the doctor was not affected by frontliners or colleagues dealing with Covid-19 cases.

The victim tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday and was put on breathing support since Thursday after his condition deteriorated.

As at noon yesterday, there were 1,183 cases of infections reported in Malaysia.

Worldwide, 275,577 cases have been reported with the death toll surpassing 12,000. – March 22, 2020.