Focus on hospitals, not ambulances, Dzulkefly tells govt

PETALING JAYA: A former health minister has questioned the rationale behind Putrajaya’s planned purchase of an additional 500 negative pressure ambulances, saying the government’s priorities have been “tossed out the window”.

A negative pressure ambulance is one that is equipped with special enhancements to safely treat and transport patients with infectious diseases.

Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad said the government should instead invest in more negative pressure wards in hospitals.

“As the number of deaths, including those brought-in-dead are still high, the government should focus on ensuring there are more negative pressure rooms or invest in ramping up the FTTIS, as well as vaccination,” he said.

FTTIS stands for Find, Test, Trace, Isolate and Support, a system developed by the World Health Organization.

“Plans to purchase more ambulances does not reflect a proper understanding of the situation at ground zero or what is really needed,” he told FMT, adding that if needed, the likes of St Johns Ambulance or the Red Crescent would be more than willing to help out with their ambulances.

According to Dzulkefly, health workers transporting Covid-19 cases are already vaccinated besides being in full personal protective equipment, so there was no need for so many specialised ambulances.

“What is more important right now is to reduce the number of deaths. Given the dire straits that we are in, the government must be reminded to be prudent in their spending,” he said.

A few days ago, health minister Dr Adham Baba said his ministry will begin procuring more negative pressure ambulances to ferry Covid-19 patients to treatment centres.

Adham said these ambulances were important, especially in locations with a high number of cases. — Free Malaysia Today