The Bagan MP said 96.6% of beds in the intensive care units (ICUs) in Penang were occupied. This made Penang the state with the second highest utilisation of ICU beds in the country.

Lim proposed that health minister Khairy Jamaluddin look into setting up more field hospitals, with more ICU beds, in Covid-19 hotspots such as Seberang Jaya, Nibong Tebal and Balik Pulau.

“Penangites are grateful for the quick completion of a field hospital, comprising 96 ordinary beds and four ICU beds, at the Penang Hospital car park by the armed forces.

“However, with the ICU bed utilisation nearly hitting full capacity, Khairy should consider building more field hospitals for Penang,” he said in a statement.

On Sept 11, Khairy said that a field hospital would be built at the public hospital parking lot to accommodate more Covid-19 patients in Penang.

The armed forces began the construction of the field hospital on Sept 16, with 23 tents set up on a 2,300 square metre area. It is expected to be operational soon.

Meanwhile, Lim also proposed that Khairy draw on the extra RM5 billion in funds allocated to his ministry as part of the RM45 billion fund injection to fight Covid-19 in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the federal government and Pakatan Harapan on Sept 13.

He said the RM5 billion could help to not only conduct mass testing nationwide but also increase manpower by taking contract doctors on a permanent basis and improve health support services, such as adding ICU beds.

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