ATM field hospital starts operations

JOHOR BARU: The Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) Field Hospital, located at the compound of the Sultanah Aminah Hospital's (HSA) main building, began operations today.
Army chief Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor said the hospital would operate 24 hours a day and was able to perform an emergency surgery every one hour.
"We have carried out preparatory training to receive patients in need and stationed four ATM officers and 25 paramedics.
"The time frame of the hospital is not a problem because the focus should be on recovery efforts of the operation theatre at the HSA's main building so that it can function as usual," he told reporters after visiting the Field Hospital here today.
The Field Hospital has wards, mobile operating theatres, sterilisation or decontamination service unit, X-ray service as well as dental service.
Raja Mohamed Affandi said the management of the Field Hospital would be handed over to HSA while ATM would provide assistance in terms of maintenance and technical support.
Johor Health director Dr Rooshaimi Merican A. Rahim Merican said at the moment, the Field Hospital would only be used to carry out emergency surgeries.
"For now , we will not accept outpatients but will be more focused on emergency surgeries and we will study the needs from day to day," she said.
On Tuesday, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on the second floor of the main building of HSA caught fire, killing six patients and injuring three of its staff.
It resulted in the temporary closure of the main building to allow evaluation work on the safety level, wiring, building structure and related matters which are expected to take two to four weeks. — Bernama