JOHOR BARU: A mobile army hospital set up at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) to perform minor surgery, following a fire in Oct that killed six HSA patients, was closed today.
State Health and Environment Executive Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat thanked the Defence Ministry, the Armed Forces and the Kluang Mahkota Medical Camp for rendering their help to the HSA following the tragedy.
"It was initially set up as an operation theatre and ward for minor injury cases for two weeks only, but it continued until today," Ayub said in a statement.
During the period of its operation, 266 patients were treated, and 278 cases were attended to.
The mobile hospital comprised five mobile units (buses), measuring 255 square metres, which could accommodate between 60 and 70 patients a day.
"The mobile bus was used by HSA doctors to perform surgeries that took less than one hour. After patients were stable, they were transferred to the Sultan Ismail Hospital, or any other hospital nearby for further treatment.
"It operated round-the-clock, and was manned by specialists from the HSA or renters who worked in shifts," Ayub said.
"Army personnel were also deployed to give assistance to medical staff while they were there.
“The mobile hospital will now be deployed to the east coast on a mission to help flood victims there," said Ayub.
He added that the HSA will set up two rooms at the main building, to be used as the emergency ward, with a medical team that will receive emergency cases round the clock.