PUTRAJAYA, 10 JULY: The ‘Greater Klang Valley’ special task group was formed with the goal of improving the Klang Valley’s health system’s preparedness for the Covid-19 epidemic. Its mission, according to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, is to deal with the current circumstances, particularly the dire demand for beds and manpower in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
“The Health Ministry established the task group to investigate into a broader scope, which we refer to as the “Greater” Klang Valley. “Although it is called the ‘Greater’ Klang Valley, we will also include south Perak, west Pahang, and the northern part of Negeri Sembilan where there is a unified command center,” he said today at a special press conference on the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) preparedness strategies to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic in the Klang Valley.
He added Datuk Dr Chong Chee Kheong, the deputy director-general of Public Health, is in charge of the special task team, which began operations last Thursday.
Dr Chong’s role in the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) has now been filled by Health deputy director-general (Research and Technical Support) Datuk Dr Hishamshah Mohd Ibrahim, according to Dr Adham.
The task force, he said, will ensure that all Ministry of Health hospitals, including private service organizations participating in Covid-19 therapy, are prepared for a pandemic.
Dr. Adham further stated that the task force’s role is to make full preparations before the Emergency Ordinance expires on August 1.
He explained that the Ministry of Health has taken over the management and facilities of numerous agencies and ministries as a result of the Emergency Ordinance’s implementation.
The non-MoH facilities, on the other hand, must be restored to their respective organizations and ministries after the emergency period has ended.
“This month, for example, MoH secretary-general Datuk Mohd Shafiq Abdullah will have to renegotiate with the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) because we have taken over Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital (HUKM) Children’s Specialist Hospital during the Emergency, but we will no longer be able to use the facility to treat Covid-19 cases once the Emergency is over.
“As a result, a new agreement with the MOHE must be formed so that the hospital can continue to treat Covid-19 patients,” he added, adding that once the emergency is over, the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) must be revisited.
Meanwhile, due of the movement of people, Dr. Chong said the task group was formed to focus on Covid-19 transmission in the Klang Valley and its border districts.
“There is a huge need to ensure sufficient beds, equipment, and staff to manage the situation due to the spike of cases,” he stated.
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