TOP 8 POINTS IN COVID19 PRIVATE-PUBLIC INTEGRATION
by Dr Low Kah Pin @gynaepenang

Disclaimer: I am a gynae,
NOT public health expert,
NOT epidemiologist
NOT infectious disease specialist
NOT covidologist

But here's a few things I wanna pen down since I am curating (alang2) https://twitter.com/DGHisham/status/1352920013837979655

1 Private hospitals all prepared to help out in pandemics since EARLY 2020, to take over non-covid patients as CSR corporate social responsibility program

Thus,there is NO need for darurat in 2021 to nationalize private hospitals

2 Rumors: Reason to open up private hosps for covid19 patients was enable VVIPs (read: Ministers) & supertycoons who not keen to be admitted to public hosp or quarantine centre ie MAEPS

Not all GHs are filled up fully by covid patients
Many GHs just turned hybrid lately

3 To fight pandemics,TWO keys strategy is
IDENTIFY &
CENTRALIZED ISOLATION

Thus,having a few patients spread all over all private hosps are DISPERSION, resulting in a few times increased usage(wastage) of PPEs and manpowers plus increased risk of outbreaks

4 Not all people died of covid, there are many urgent diseases such as heart attacks,stroke,cancer,etc

Hence, best solution is

All GHs = covid hosp
All private hosps = noncovid hosp

5 Docs familiar with covid (physicians,ID specialists,intensivists) from private hosp helps out in GHs while

Other docs fr GHs treat noncovid pts in private hosp which provides boarding,facilities,nursing probono

Resources pooled&shared between all hosps

Essentials meds at GHs

6 This also can reduce public fear of going to hospitals

"Dont go hospital if not necessary" not only deter visitors to hosp,it also deter those with severe symptoms but delayed their visit to hosp dt fear of contracting covid

Higher morbidity in noncovid patients for sure!

7 IDENTIFY:RAMP UP testing& contact tracing is ESSENTIALS

Thats was how Korea&China were successful in containing infection

Rope in civil servants from other gov depts for manpower

Nationalize private labs to increase testing capabilities

Consider pool testing

8 Private docs are self sustained contractors & if contracted the virus will be out of income for at least 2 weeks&max few months dt covidiscrimination by patients

While GHs docs can take MCs & income continues as usual

Good thread on Private hosp: https://twitter.com/lapetitemaligne/status/1351405140532576257?s=19