The Health Ministry will send replacements for ventilators given to Sarawak hospitals last week which were not working properly.
The health authority said that the 10 machines sent to the Borneo state on April 13 were in good condition when tested at Sungai Buloh Hospital, and it believes that the ventilators could have sustained damages during transportation.
"After looking closely at claims that the ventilators received by Sarawak were not functioning, the Health Ministry found that damages could have been caused by the transportation process to the respective receiving facilities.
"The possible cause behind these faults could be due to the machines' oxygen sensor and printed circuit board, which are super sensitive to vibration, temperature and humidity during transportation.
"As an addition, the ministry has sent eight brand-new ventilators of the Weinmenn type together with eight units of ICU Patient Monitors to Sarikei Hospital. Three of the ventilators have been tested and are now in use, while the other five will be tested and commissioned by this week," the ministry said in a statement.
On top of this, the ministry said it would deliver an additional 11 brand-new ventilators of Sternmed and Weinmenn brands to Sarawak, of which five would go to Sibu Hospital, two to Sarikei Hospital, and the remaining four to Bintulu Hospital.
Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that Bukit Assek assemblyperson Irene Mary Chang Oi Ling questioned Putrajaya for sending life-saving equipment that was not functioning.
The 10 ventilators were sent to Sarawak last week in conjunction with Health Minister Dr Adham Baba's official visit to the state, and later distributed to Sibu Hospital (five units), Bintulu Hospital (three units), and Sarikei Hospital (two units).
Chang had also criticised the ministry for giving ventilators that did not have built-in air compressors, as it would require the hospital receiving them to have wall compressors to connect to the machines.
To this, the ministry said that the 10 ventilators were of the Draeger Evita 4 brand meant for use at the intensive care unit only and not for normal wards which require the type with built-in compressors. - Mkini
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