The Malaysian Insight

THE Health Ministry (MOH) has allocated RM39 million for the outsourcing of patients from government hospitals to private care for 2021, Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.

This is more than three times the RM11 million allocated for the same purpose last year.

He said MOH will continue outsourcing patients from public to private hospitals to allow public hospitals more room to treat Covid-19 cases. 

“Last year, the MOH was allocated RM11 million for the outsourcing programme. As for 2021, an allocation of RM39 million has been distributed to 14 states for the same purpose,” he said in a statement. 

The outsourcing involves critically urgent and semi-urgent cases, such as those requiring surgery and for patients with heart problems and cancers.

This will cut short the waiting time for patients, he added.

Following a surge in Covid-19 cases in the Klang Valley, Noor Hisham said since July 6, Hospital Kuala Lumpur has referred 25 patients to nearby private hospitals for treatment. 

“It is estimated that at least four patients will be outsourced on a daily basis,” he said, adding that around 993 patients in the next six months will be outsourced to private hospitals.

In 2020, 31 private hospitals were involved in the outsourcing programme, where 3,741 surgeries were done.

“This year, 72 private hospitals are involved in outsourcing nationwide,” he said.

Malaysia today recorded 8,868 Covid-19 cases, the second-highest daily count since the onset of the pandemic, and a new record high of 135 deaths. 

Intensive care unit capacity is also stretched, with 952 patients warded in ICUs.

MOH is also deploying contract medical officers who have completed their housemanship to public healthcare facilities that are in critical need. – July 8, 2021.