The Selangor Health Department has responded to heart-wrenching videos of Serdang Hospital patients in makeshift tents by saying that the video was captured while patients were waiting for new equipment and upgrades, and hence did not reflect the actual conditions on the ground.
Its director Dr Sha'ari Ngadiman (above) added that the use of tents in temporary wards was implemented in most emergency departments in Selangor.
"The Selangor Health Department would like to issue an update on the status of the hospital situation in Selangor, particularly in Serdang Hospital following a viral video of patients' conditions at its emergency ward.
"Following the daily increase of Covid-19 cases in Selangor, the Health Department has carried out preparedness measures to face the 'surge capacity' of Covid-19 patients, especially for Category 3 patients and above.
"The implementation of outsourcing parts of the clinical services to private hospitals is being actively carried out to help reduce patient congestion in hospitals and ensure that they receive appropriate treatment, especially for non-Covid-19 patients," he said in a statement last night.
The state Health Department will monitor the implementation of outsourcing in accordance with Health Ministry guidelines, he said, including patient selection criteria and the involvement of private hospitals.
"Each hospital has also optimised the use of existing facilities in the hospital such as operating theatres, clinics and wards to accommodate the increasing number of patients," added Sha'ari.
"The video of the condition of Serdang Hospital which has gone viral shows the condition of the Emergency Department while waiting for some equipment.
"The facilities at Serdang Hospital are equipped with air conditioning and a fan. The job of preparing tents to accommodate Covid-19 patients equipped with air conditioning facilities, fans, water dispensers, toilet facilities and complete electric facilities was completed on July 21," he said.
Sha'ari added that 81 additional beds had been provided and that his department was always committed to providing quality services to the people.
Yesterday, Seri Kembangan assemblyperson Ean Yong Hian Wah demanded answers after a Facebook post with videos of patients in makeshift tents and some sleeping on the floor, went viral.
He called on Health Minister Dr Adham Baba to explain if this is true and lamented that the videos made Malaysia appear like a third-world nation.
The DAP assemblyperson also reiterated his call for Adham to be replaced, claiming that the latter is unfit to helm the Health Ministry.
“I once again urge the federal government to appoint a new health minister.
“The people don't want to wait for incidents such as (the one) at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) Klang to happen - only when the prime minister visits, the new beds came. This approach is incorrect and unprofessional," added Ean Yong. - Mkini
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