MELAKA: The Mercy Malaysia field hospital, set up near the Hospital Melaka Emergency and Trauma Department, has begun treating Covid-19 patients in categories 3 and 4 in a bid to reduce congestion at the hospital.

       Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali said the temporary hospital, which took four days to complete, could accommodate a maximum of 100 patients at one time.

       For a start, 75 beds had been placed in the hospital, which received the first group of patients at about 4pm yesterday, he added.

       “Mercy Malaysia has provided medical and non-medical equipment for the use of staff and patients and fully bears the construction costs of the field hospital.

       “On behalf of the state government, Melaka Health Department and Hospital Melaka, I thank Mercy Malaysia and the Health Ministry for realising the construction of this field hospital,” he Sulaiman told reporters after visiting the field hospital here yesterday.

       Also present were state health and anti-drugs committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman and state Health deputy director (Public Health) Dr Rusdi Abdul Rahman.

       Sulaiman added that nine health workers would be stationed at the field hospital, which has been equipped with safety features such as an alarm system and fire extinguishers to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

       All Covid-19 patients would be treated at Hospital Melaka and the Mercy Malaysia field hospital while non-Covid-19 patients would be placed at Hospital Jasin, Hospital Alor Gajah and the Armed Forces Hospital at the Terendak Camp, he added. – Bernama