ICUs in Klang Valley operating at 113% capacity, says Health DG

PETALING JAYA: As more Covid-19 patients fall critically ill, it has become a burden to intensive care units (ICUs) at public hospitals.

ICUs in Klang Valley are operating at 113% capacity, while 91% of the beds in ICUs nationwide have been occupied.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the increase in Covid-19 patients who are critically ill has reduced the chance of non-Covid-19 patients from getting the necessary critical care.

“The hospitals have had to repurpose other areas like normal wards into temporary ICUs by equipping beds, along with other necessary medical equipment, ” he posted on Facebook on Saturday (May 22).

From the statistics of ICU capacity in various hospitals he shared, ICUs in Hospital Kajang and Hospital Banting are working at 317% and 200% capacity respectively.

Meanwhile, the ICU in Hospital Sungai Buloh, the main Covid-19 hospital in Klang Valley, is operating at 111% capacity.

Dr Noor Hisham said the healthcare system is under great pressure and urged the public to do their part by self-imposing lockdown to break the spread of the virus.

“The virus is spreading in the community. Follow SOPs and stay home, ” he said.