Field hospital in Penang operational soon

All in order: Mej-Jen Arman (second from left) looking at the progress work of the Field ICU at Penang Hospital. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

GEORGE TOWN: The 100-bed capacity field hospital at the Penang Hospital here is almost ready and is expected to be completed within a day or two.

Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) 2nd Division Commander Mejar-Jeneral Datuk Arman Rumaizi Ahmad, who announced this, said 95% of the hospital has been completed.

“As the preparations for this hospital involve various agencies, work will still be ongoing after this in terms of technical and mechanical work. We expect to complete preparations in terms of logistical assets in a few days,” he said after visiting the site yesterday.

Last week, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the field hospital would be built at the parking lot of the Penang Hospital after it reached its critical capacity due to increasing Covid-19 cases.

He added the field hospital would be equipped with respiratory facilities, intensive care unit (ICU) equipment and other facilities.

The hospital with 100 beds will have eight ICU beds, while the remaining 92 are “acute” beds to treat Categories 3 and 4 Covid-19 patients.