With the need for extra beds, especially in the intensive care unit (ICU), he said the ministry will implement several immediate measures to address the unexpected high referral rate to hospitals in the Klang Valley.

Among the immediate steps is to further expand the outsourcing of non-Covid-19 patients to private hospitals to enable the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) to treat more Covid-19 patients.

In addition, he said the capacity of ICU and non-ICU beds, including equipment and facilities such as ventilators, in hospitals such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Children’s Specialist Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia Hospital and Universiti Teknologi Mara Hospital will be increased to treat more Covid-19 patients.

“Another step is to provide temporary reassignment (mobilisation) of healthcare personnel, consisting of medical specialists and paramedics, from other states to support services at hospitals that need additional staff to treat Covid-19 patients,” he said in a statement today.

Adham said another measure was to optimise the contribution of volunteers and final-year nursing students from training institutes undergoing practical training to assist healthcare personnel at vaccination centres (PPVs).

“In addition, some experienced nurses at PPVs and Covid-19 screening centres will be reassigned to hospitals.

“Through these actions, we hope that the pressure faced by the hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients can be reduced from time to time and the country can achieve recovery soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, Adham said of the total Covid-19 cases handled by HKL, 71% were category three to five patients (in serious condition), while the remaining were category one and two patients.

Based on the latest records, the HKL Emergency and Trauma Department receives 60 to 70 Covid-19 patients daily, with an average of three category 4 and 5 patients who need respiratory assistance in addition to needing treatment in the ICU.