DAP state assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah said he had received numerous reports about the shortage a few months back, with some Covid-19 patients told to go to the hospital by themselves as ambulances were unavailable.

“This isn’t a minor issue. It has been occurring since last year and it shows the failure of our healthcare system,” the Seri Kembangan rep said in a Facebook post.

He went on to say that due to the numerous complaints, his service centre had no choice but to use a van to ferry Covid-19 patients, who had been denied an ambulatory service, to hospital.

Ean Yong said he had also learnt that the hospital was short of manpower, with his volunteers being told not to admit any more patients as there were not enough beds.

Ean Yong believes other hospitals in the Klang Valley are experiencing similar problems.

His highlighting of the shortage of ambulances comes a day after health minister Dr Adham Baba said the ministry would be procuring an additional 500 ambulances, including negative pressure ambulances.