This comes after Adham’s predecessor Dzulkefly Ahmad said Putrajaya’s priorities were “tossed out the window” when he questioned the rationale behind the proposed purchase of 500 negative pressure ambulances.

Adham had reportedly said the ministry would be procuring more negative pressure ambulances to ferry Covid-19 patients to treatment centres, adding that it will begin with the tender of 500 ambulances while other ambulances will use the leasing system, according to zones.

In a statement, health ministry secretary-general Mohd Shafiq Abdullah said Adham did not mention that all 500 ambulances were negative pressure.

He maintained that negative pressure ambulances were needed to fight Covid-19 now and were also for future use, adding that these units were designed to curb the spread of infectious diseases, especially those that are airborne.

“On June 17, the health ministry advertised the tender offer for the procurement of 490 types of ambulances fitted with medical equipment for the use of hospitals and clinics across the country,” he said.

Adham had said these ambulances were important in locations with a high number of Covid-19 cases as it would help with the logistics of transporting patients.

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

Dzulkefly yesterday said the government should be investing in more negative pressure wards in hospitals than ambulances, citing the high number of deaths of late.