SIBU, Feb 17: Sibu Hospital is unable to cope with an increase in rt-PCR test samples as it is lacking in PCR test machine.
Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew said this acute shortage has forced the hospital to send more than 1,000 rt-PCR test samples to Kuala Lumpur daily, thus adding time to when results would be known.
In February last year, the hospital had one such unit. A private company had in March donated another unit.
At the time, the federal government did not supply PCR machines to Sibu Hospital as the number of Covid-19 cases were very low last year.
“Some asked why the federal government did not supply to Sibu Hospital. The federal Health Ministry had purchased some machines but none for Sibu as the cases here was very low then,” Lau explained.
Lau noted that when the number of cases in Sibu and the Central Region was very low in the second half of 2020, no one was worried about the number of machines.
However, with the recent outbreak of the coronavirus here stemming from the prolific Pasai Cluster, there is a need for more PCR test machines at Sibu Hospital.
A total of 51,640 swab tests were done from Jan 10 to Feb 16 which is an average of 1,435 tests per day.
However one of the current units had to be returned to the research unit of the hospital for research work.
“With only one machine and the fear of breakdown, any surge of cases here would make for a very dire situation. A request was made to the federal government for funding to buy another unit but the process takes too long and we will have to fight with all the other public hospitals (to get one),” Lau added.
Fortunately another private company came forward to answer the need and a new machine arrived in early December 2020.
“However, despite not getting federal funds for (the purchase of) the equipment, the federal government has to fund the running cost which is very high. The reagent used is very expensive. The material cost of doing each test comes up to RM150. Then there is the operational cost. These are footed by the federal government,” Lau revealed.
He called on private medical centres to step forward to assist as they have the required facilities and trained staff, and the government would pay for every sample sent to the private sector to be tested. — DayakDaily
