Never again.

The Government is spending $12 million to gear up for any health crisis that could arise, such as a killer flu pandemic.

Some 130 beds in the six public hospitals will be retrofitted to ensure that they can double as ICU (intensive care unit) beds should the need arise. Equipping each with breathing apparatus and monitors for vital signs will cost about $100,000.

They are not needed now, as the hospitals already have 188 ICU beds, which have a year-round occupancy rate of under 70 per cent, and 16 more on standby.

A Health Ministry (MOH) spokesman told The Straits Times that disease experts have said it is only a matter of time before the arrival of a pandemic, which can sweep through a country and fell large numbers of people in weeks.

She added that since no one can say when or how hard the next pandemic will strike, 'we need to make sure that we have certain capabilities in place to meet the challenges of such health emergencies'.

Existing beds in the general, isolation and high-dependency wards will be fitted with extra oxygen points and uninterrupted power supply. For now, though, these beds will continue to be used in their current capacity.

The ministry will also buy ventilators and monitors.

Public hospitals have added more isolation rooms to house patients with highly infectious diseases. There are now 492 such rooms, up from just 135 when Sars hit; another 112 will be added soon.

Other preparations MOH has made include stocking up on over a million doses of flu medicine Tamiflu, enough for a quarter of the population, at a cost of $35 million; it also has six months' supply of personal protective gear such as masks and gloves.

Last month, Parliament gave the Health Minister sweeping powers to commandeer the use of private hospitals and manpower in a health crisis.

salma@sph.com.sg