Almost RM600mil spent on medical equipment to combat Covid-19, says KJ

Almost RM600mil spent on medical equipment to combat Covid-19, says KJ

Health minister Khairy Jamaluddin says additional medical equipment valued at RM148 million was donated by international and local organisations.

Kedah, Sabah and Penang are the latest states to have received additional healthcare resources, including doctors and nurses, says Khairy Jamaluddin.
PETALING JAYA:
The government spent almost RM600 million on additional medical equipment in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic over the past 17 months, health minister Khairy Jamaluddin told the Dewan Rakyat today.

When asked how much was spent to face the spike in Covid-19 numbers, he said the cost of additional medical equipment required in 2020 and 2021 was RM593 million.

He added that this did not include the equipment donated by international and local organisations which were valued at RM148 million.

Teo Nie Ching (PH-Kulai) then enquired on the human capital needed in government hospitals.

According to Khairy, the government had already established a National Rapid Response Task Force to deploy human capital as required in areas or states facing a surge in cases.

So far, Kedah, Sabah and Penang are the latest states to have received transfers of healthcare workers under the task force.

He said that currently, Penang received around 253 medical officers, 36 assistant MOs and 62 nurses; Kedah, 156 healthcare workers; and Sabah, 102.

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