Construction Of COVID-19 Emergency Hospital In Banten Lack Of Health Workers, Especially Pulmonary Specialists

Yasmin Hotel is prepared to be a shelter for COVID-19 patients in Tangerang Regency (Photo: Mulyana/Antara)

JAKARTA - Banten Governor Wahidin Halim said the construction of a COVID-19 emergency hospital in this area was still constrained by the limited number of health workers, especially pulmonary specialists.

"For emergency hospitals, we have repeatedly stated that our problem is the problem of health workers, especially pulmonary doctors," he said, in Serang, as reported by Antara, Saturday, July 24.

Wahidin Halim's statement answered a number of parties' proposals for him to establish an emergency COVID-19 hospital in Banten Province.

"Establishing a hospital, including a COVID-19 emergency hospital, is hampered by the availability of health workers, especially specialist doctors, because this is an important factor," Wahidin said.

According to him, establishing a hospital is not as easy as setting up a health clinic.

For this reason, he said in an effort to help people affected by COVID-19, the local government is currently supported by the TNI and Polri carrying out a program of basic food assistance and free medicines from the central government for people who are self-isolating.

"Three kinds of COVID-19 drug packages were distributed by Babinsa, Bhabinkamtibmas, and public health centers to residents who are self-isolating according to their symptoms," he said.

"This is one of our efforts to prevent people from flocking to the hospital," said Wahidin.

Wahidin said to reduce pressure on hospital bed occupancy (BOR) and prevent confirmed COVID-19 residents with mild symptoms, the regents and mayors established shelter houses to prevent the transmission and spread of the coronavirus.