by ASILA JALIL / pic by TMR FILE
THE Health Ministry has spent RM593 million to date since the pandemic began to procure additional medical equipment for critical Covid-19 cases in the country.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said among the equipment purchased include ventilators and intensive care unit (ICU) beds.
“The amount does not include donations we have received from within and outside of the country which totalled to RM148 million,” he said in a response to a query from Kapar MP Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid in the Dewan Rakyat today.
To accommodate the surge of cases in several states, Khairy said he had instructed for the formation of a rapid response task force in the country that can deploy more manpower to the areas.
He said the ministry is mobilising 223 medical staff in Penang, 156 medical staff in Kedah and 102 in Sabah to manage the rise of infections.
“We will rotate the medical staff to ensure enough officers at locations that are facing a surge in cases and to avoid frontliners from burning out,” he said.
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