PRIVATE hospitals have maximised their capacity for Covid-19 beds and intensive care units (ICUs) even before government hospitals have run out of such facilities, said Dr Kuljit Singh.

The president of Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) told The Malaysian Insight that beds and ICUs at private hospitals ran out three weeks ago.

“We were maximised even before the government hospitals maximised their capacity,” he said.

He said private hospitals in the Klang Valley are overstretched, adding that Penang and Johor are also facing the problem fast.

There are currently 31 private hospitals in the Klang Valley accepting Covid-19 patients, but the number of beds allocated for coronavirus care at each hospital is based on the individual capacity and capabilities.

“We are doing beyond what we can do. But we are trying our level best to help,” said Kuljit.

He said private hospitals have also been working among themselves by sending patients to other hospitals that have available beds.

He said while patients are willing to pay for treatment, the capacity of hospitals is limited.

Kuljit said private hospitals lack the capacity and expertise that public hospitals have in managing Covid-19 cases.

“There is a team that has to be isolated, and you need to have people with experience and the whole team must know what to do,” he said.

“Covid-19 is closely treated in terms of expertise and the place they are treated, which has to be closed up.

“We do not have enough specialists and manpower to manage it, unlike the government hospitals. That is our limitation.”

On whether the government has been decanting a significant number of patients to private hospitals, Kuljit said there are hardly any non-Covid-19 patients as many government hospitals have suspended elective procedures and surgeries.

As for Covid-19 patients, he said they are only sent over if they request it.

“Unless the patient requests and he has got the money, but then again, it depends on whether we have the bed,” he said.

Director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, in a Facebook post, said the occupancy rate of intensive care unit (ICU) beds nationwide has reached 80%.

“Although (we) are always increasing the number of ICU beds for Covid-19 patients, I am disheartened to report that the occupancy of such beds across the country has reached 80%,” he said.

“Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Sarawak, Kedah and Perak have exceeded the occupancy rate of 80% and there are hospitals where the ICU beds have been maxed out.”

He said currently, there are 1,388 ICU beds to accommodate Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients at 78 government and teaching hospitals.

This comes as daily Covid-19 cases continued to trend in the 3000-4000 levels.

ICU occupancy has also been at record levels over the last week with 520 patients as of yesterday.

Active cases also remain high after an upsurge since April 6. There were 41,889 active cases as of yesterday.

Health Minister Dr Adham Baba recently told The Malaysian Insight that the government is looking at increasing ICUs, ventilators and ambulance service as the healthcare system comes under pressure with mounting Covid-19 cases.

The Health Ministry is working with other government agencies and private hospitals to ensure adequate facilities.

Among the government agencies involved are the Higher Education Ministry, Defence Ministry, National Disaster Management Agency, Fire Department, Civil Defence Force and Malaysian Red Crescent Society.

Adham said teaching hospitals such as Universiti Malaya, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Mara and Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM will add 300 more ICU beds.

He added that military hospitals have also prepared field ICU services, which have a capacity of 36 beds. – May 17, 2021.