Private hospitals urge govt to stop exports of masks

Hospitals get ready: Women wearing protective masks cross a street in Kuala Lumpur. The APHM, which represents all the large private hospitals in Malaysia, is preparing for a possible drastic increase in the number of patients in the weeks ahead. — AP

PETALING JAYA: Private hospitals in Malaysia are unable to source for three ply masks, N95 masks and personal protective equipment (PPE), said the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM).

“This is a serious situation which impacts upon the safety of patients and staff involved. Local manufacturers continue to export such items while the private hospitals are crying out for such crucial supplies, ” the APHM’s president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh told StarBiz.