Gov’t Readies More COVID-19 Emergency Hospitals in Seven Regions

INDUSTRY.co.id - In a bid to anticipate the needs for medical facilities following spike in COVID-19 cases, the Government has announced it is preparing at least 16 additional buildings to be converted into COVID-19 emergency hospitals in seven regions.

Those seven regions in question include capital Jakarta, West Java provincial capital of Bandung city, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Central Java provincial capital of Semarang, Central Java town of Solo, East Java provincial capital of Surabaya city, and Bali province.

“As ordered by the Government, Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing is preparing not only isolation rooms but also hospitals. For example, a hajj dorm in Pondok Gede (in East Jakarta city) consisting of five buildings has been converted to an emergency hospital for COVID-19 treatment with a total of almost 900 beds, including for health care workers,” Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono said.

The buildings in Pondok Gede hajj dorm that are now used as COVID-19 emergency hospital are building A, building B, building C, building H, and building D5.

They have been operated gradually since Friday (16/07), while buildings D3 and D4 will be used for health care workers’ facilities.

Apart from Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory, the Ministry has also been preparing Pasar Rumput low-cost apartment building and Kiara Women and Children’s Health Center (PKIA) building for National General Hospital Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo (RSCM).

Pasar Rumput apartment building utilizes three available towers with 5,952 beds in total. In tower 1, 689 units with a total of 2,067 beds will be used. In tower 2, 606 units with a total of 1,818 beds will be used, whereas in tower 3, 689 units with a total of 2,067 beds will be used.

As for Kiara PKIA building, floors 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10 with a total of 394 beds will be used for RSCM’s COVID-19 facilities. The construction is set to be completed in three weeks, according to Special Staff of Minister of Public Works and Public Housing for Technology, Industry, and Environment Endra S. Atmawidjaja who also acts as the Spokesperson of the Ministry.

“The renovation of RSCM’s Kiara PKIA building will be completed in three weeks at the latest,” he said, adding that there are also two facilities in Bali province and four facilities in Special Region of Yogyakarta to be built.

“There are at least three COVID-19 emergency hospitals in Bandung that have been prepared and they are likely to start operating on Wednesday (21/07),” he added.

Endra also pointed out that the Ministry is renovating Indrapura Hospital in Surabaya for treating COVID-19 patients that is set to finish at the beginning of August this year.

“Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing is also preparing isolation and COVID-19 treatment facilities in Semarang and Greater Solo areas that are expected to start operating Thursday, 22 July 2021,” he said.

As an anticipative measure, Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing is ready to continue to convert other buildings outside the islands of Java and Bali to COVID-19 emergency hospitals.

Since the onset of the pandemic, several emergency hospitals have been built, namely Galang Island Hospital in Riau Islands province, Kemayoran Athlete Village and Pasar Rumput low-cost apartment building in Special Capital Region of Jakarta, Lamongan General Hospital and Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang Hospital in East Java province, and Universitas Gadjah Mada Academic Hospital in Yogyakarta province.