State calls for laws to allow private hospitals to take in Categories Three to Five Covid-19 patients

(From left) Joseph Ng (PH-Ayer Itam), Heng Lee Lee (PH-Berapit) and Lim Guan Eng (PH-Air Putih) sharing a light moment during break time.

PENANG is pushing for laws to allow private hospitals to take in 30% of Categories Three to Five Covid-19 patients to ease the burden of public healthcare facilities.

State health committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin said at present, only 5% of Covid-19 patients have been taken in by private hospitals, which have 66 intensive care unit (ICU) beds, 49 high dependency unit (HDU) beds and coronary care unit (CCU) beds and 78 ventilators.