HAVING been a patient of Kajang Hospital, I want to voice out my concern about recent happenings at the hospital.

Firstly is that the hospital, being an old one, has poor infrastructure such as electrical and oxygen system and is probably not a good hospital to handle Covid-19. However due to necessity from the recent surge, it has become a hybrid hospital. I noticed that the intensive care unit has been converted to a Covid ICU and I wonder if this is appropriate from the legal as well as ethical point of view.

We should not discriminate against patients who are non-Covid and the Health Ministry should provide equitable care for patients of all sorts. Taking care of critically ill non-Covid patients in the general wards in this old hospital is terribly discriminating and unfair in my humble opinion.

Secondly there is no screening of admitted patients for Covid. This type of open ward found in old hospitals will put vulnerable patients at risk because it is a near impossibility for patients to wear mask 24 hours a day especially when they are sleeping. Screening not only on admission but also at regular intervals may help reduce transmission.

Thirdly I noticed new renovations and partitions created in the wards. My understanding of Covid is that it is an airborne disease and best handled by good ventilation. The design of the original open wards was very good in providing ventilation so I wonder if it is scientific to put up such partitions that hinder ventilation. I also wonder whether could this increase the risk of contracting the disease. The toilets are also shared by all patients. which will further increase exposure risk.

I hope experts out there can help provide answers or advise and hopefully bring improvement to the hospital. – July 23, 2021.

* TEK reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.