Health minister Dr Adham Baba said this type of ambulance was important, especially in locations with a high number of Covid-19 cases.

“We will begin with the tender for 500 units of this type of ambulance. For other ambulances, we will use the leasing system, according to zones.

“This will help solve logistics issues we face in moving Covid-19 patients,” he said at the handover ceremony of the first “negative pressure” ambulance at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (MAEPS) Covid-19 Quarantine and Low-Risk Treatment Centre (PKRC) here today.

The ambulance and two other regular ambulances were handed over by Weststar Group Automotive Division CEO Syed Muhammad Ammar Syed Azman.

Besides having a negative pressure system, this type of ambulance is also fitted with HEPA filter and ultraviolet (UV) lights, which provide protection against infectious diseases, especially air-borne ones.

The HEPA filtration system and UV light clean the air. At the same time, they prevent the virus from spreading.

The ambulance is equipped with an isolation chamber, which is made from a special thermoplastic polyurethane film, strengthened by inserting acrylonitrile butadiene styrene poles along each side of the structure.

Both the ambulance cabin and isolation chamber are also fitted with a safety alarm that alerts medical personnel of any air leakage to enable appropriate action to be taken.