KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's success in controlling the spread of Covid-19 challenges the idea that medical expertise and a robust health system “is best channeled by legacy powers and historically rich states”, says a report.
Compiled by non-profit organisations Unitaid and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative , the report, posted by Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah on his official website, said compared to the situation in the West, countries in the East such as Malaysia showed innovative and speedy pandemic responses that kept infections and deaths relatively low.
"From December 2019 to April this year, in addition to increasing capacity and the number of diagnostic laboratories, we increased the number of hospitals treating Covid-19 patients from 26 hospitals to 40 hospitals, including seven which function as full Covid-19 hospitals. Malaysia’s preparedness began as early as December last year when the authorities heard that an"unknown virus" had precipitated several reported cases of acute respiratory syndrome in Wuhan.
Dr Noor Hisham said a serious concern for a more massive Covid-19 outbreak emerged when the ministry received notification on March 9 from Brunei about a case detected there that was linked to the annual mass religious assembly at a Seri Petaling mosque in Kuala Lumpur from Feb 27 to March 1.Newly-appointed Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on March 10 advised the public to practise social distancing.
Hospital Sungai Buloh is actually a 900-bedded hospital, and renovations were made to accommodate over 2,000 bedded patients, he said. The Institute for Medical Research , the biomedical research arm of the Health Ministry, began preparations in January.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Up to 70% of foreign barbers, hairdressers tested for Covid-19 | The Malaysian InsightAssociation says members employ about 1,500 foreign barbers from Perlis to JB, owners to bear cost of screening.
Read more »
Najib's 1MDB audit tampering trial postponed after another Covid-19 concernLead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah says lawyer Rahmat Hazlan had been 'under the weather' and sought a Covid-19 test as a precaution.
Read more »
49 more Covid-19 cases, including 36 in Beijing, recorded in ChinaThe fresh cluster in the capital is linked to a wholesale food market. FMTNews Beijing China
Read more »
Covid-19: Rusia dakwa lebih berjaya berbanding ASmoscow Presiden Vladimir Putin semalam mendakwa, Rusia berjaya menangani pandemik Covid-19 lebih baik berbanding Amerika Syarikat (AS).
Read more »
PAC trial of Najib-Arul postponed after lawyer undergoes Covid-19 testKUALA LUMPUR: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) trial involving Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy has been postponed Monday (June 15) following one of the lawyers having to undergo a Covid-19 coronavirus test.
Read more »