Kuala lumpur: The Health Ministry (MOH) is in its highest state of readiness to ensure smooth and safe health, medical, and emergency operations throughout the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, which began today. Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced the deployment of 512 personnel from 30 hospitals nationwide, including three university hospitals, specifically for the summit.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, of the total personnel, 240 comprise emergency physicians, medical officers, assistant medical officers, trained nurses, and ambulance drivers. The remaining 272 include public health, food safety, and quality officers. Dr Muhammad Yunus Tauhid Ahmad leads the team as Chief Coordinator, with Dr Hafiz Syarbaini Mansor serving as Chief Medical Officer for the summit.

Dzulkefly stated that the team is tasked with ensuring optimal levels of medical treatment, infectious disease control, food safety, and the readiness of ambulance and mobile medical units. MOH has also deployed personnel to the Bunga Raya Complex at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the main arrival point for summit attendees.

Moreover, two fully equipped medical rooms, functioning as "mini hospitals," have been established at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the primary location of the summits. These facilities include eight beds, patient monitoring equipment, defibrillators, and emergency medicines. One medical room is designated for heads of state and government, while the other serves delegates and summit staff.

To further ensure safety, MOH has enhanced public health control measures by inspecting accommodation hotels two weeks before the summit, conducting daily food sampling, and declaring the summit area a smoke-free zone. Dzulkefly emphasized the dedication of health frontliners working tirelessly to ensure the summit's successful proceedings.

The 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits are being held from October 26 to 28.