Page 28 - FIGHT AGAINST UNCERTAINTY 5 FEB 2021

Preparedness of

Hospital Facilities

The Medical Programme took several proactive steps to enhance hospital
capacity in dealing with the pandemic, despite uncertainties on the behaviour
of the novel virus. The aim of facility preparedness includes ensuring availability
of appropriate infrastructure to screen, diagnose and treat COVID-19 cases
including the critical ones which encompasses providing adequate hospital
beds, intensive care unit (ICU) beds, screening facilities, diagnostic laboratory,
medical equipment and supply. The facility, laboratory and medical equipment
teams that were established under the CPRC Hospital Services were
responsible for this.

During the early phase of the pandemic, we were challenged by unavailability
of local data and evidence, unpredictability of the situation, inadequate ICU
beds to anticipate surge of critical cases and inadequate molecular diagnostic
capacity. Global restriction on trade and international movement has further
complicated our strategies to enhance our capacity especially in procurement of
new medical equipment such as ventilators, diagnostic equipment and medical
supply such as personal protective equipment (PPE).

Report by the Malay Mail
and the Edge Market
Healthcare worker observing a patient at the COVID-19
screening tent at the National Cancer Institute.
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