JOHOR BARU: Non-Covid-19 patients at two government hospitals in Johor Baru will be transferred to private facilities to reduce burden on the public healthcare system here.
Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim said that he met on Sunday (Aug 15) with Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad, state health and environment committee chairman R. Vidyananthan, state health director Datuk Dr Aman Rabu, Prof Datuk Adeeba Kamarulzaman and Dr Dhesi Baha Raja following a viral social media post on the condition of a quarantine centre for Covid-19 patients at Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI).
“As a result of the meeting, I have decreed for the management of the Covid-19 situation to be improved and for non-Covid-19 patients to be sent to private hospitals to reduce the burden of the public healthcare system in stages.
“Non-Covid-19 patients from HSI will be transferred to Columbia Asia Hospital while patients from Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) will be transferred to KPJ Hospital,” he said in a Facebook post on Sunday (Aug 15).
He added that Hasni has also announced an addition of beds in HSI as well as an improvement in the condition of the tents in front of the hospital’s emergency and trauma department.
Tunku Ismail said that a new initiative dubbed ‘Inisiatif Pemimpin Advokasi Covid-19’ (Leaders Covid-19 advocation initiative) would also be implemented through a collaboration between the state government, Johor health department and local community leaders.
“The objective of the initiative is to avoid the spread of Covid-19 by focusing on the concept of collective responsibility in mobilising and empowering communities, improving the concept of effective risk communication to increase public awareness as well as strengthen standard operating procedures (SOP) monitoring efforts.
“The vaccination process will also be expedited and monitored constantly by the relevant agencies and local authorities so that the process could be carried out properly, quickly, safely and without burdening people coming to the vaccine centres (PPV).
“We will also be giving more attention to Covid-19 patients so that they can receive the best treatments,” he said.
Earlier, a Facebook post with videos and photos highlighting the plight of Covid-19 patients that were placed in tents in front of HSI went viral.
In response to the incident, Hasni tweeted on Saturday (Aug 14) that the state health department would increase its capacity to better manage the Covid-19 situation here.
“The state health department will be increasing its capacity by adding the existing number of beds to 44 beds for each Covid-19 ward.
“The capacity of cluster hospitals in Mersing and Kota Tinggi will also be maximised. The facilities in tents in front of HSI emergency and trauma department would also be improved,” he said in a tweet.
Meanwhile, Tunku Ismail tweeted on Saturday (Aug 14) that he would investigate the matter and request for a report for further actions.
In a separate tweet, he said that he has asked Johor Health Department director to have an audience with him on Sunday (Aug 15).
“Tomorrow (Aug 15), I will receive the full report and will take the necessary actions,” he said in a tweet on Saturday (Aug 14).
