Lee: Make Miri Hospital a regional hospital

0

MIRI: Miri Hospital should be upgraded into a regional hospital to better serve the larger northern Sarawak region.

SEEING FOR HIMSELF: Lee (right) talks to Dr Hartini (second right) and staff of Tudan Polyclinic, Miri.

The northern Sarawak region comprises Bintulu, Miri, Marudi, Limbang and Lawas.

Miri city has always served as the centre convenient for people from these places.

“A regional hospital is much needed to cover a large northern Sarawak region, where people seeking medical treatment converge in Miri,” said Infrastructure Development and Communication Assistant Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin on a site visit of Tudan Polyclinic in Bandar Baru Permyjaya yesterday.

Lee viewed the proposed regional hospital as necessary to service the medical needs of many people from the surrounding areas, who could not otherwise afford the long and costly trip to Kuching.

“It’s about time to upgrade Miri Hospital which has long served the needs of patients in northern Sarawak in line with Miri’s role as a resort city.

“Besides it will also help the people save time and the cost of travelling to Kuching, and reduce the burden on hospital facilities in Kuching,” said Lee who is also Senadin assemblyman.

An upgraded regional hospital would require more facilities in the form of doctors, specialists, nurses, beds, infrastructure and equipment which would involve a substantial amount of money.

Lee hoped the Ministry of Health (MoH) would give priority to medical facilities in Miri Hospital and polyclinics in the city.

In this context, he would try to bring up to the MoH his suggestion for Miri Hospital to be upgraded into a regional hospital in the state. “This transformation might be accomplished under the Tenth Malaysia Plan with a suitable budget allocation from the federal government.

“I will talk to the Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin to invite officials from the MoH to come and visit Miri Hospital to have a better picture of the problems faced,” he added.

Earlier during the visit, Lee inspected some areas on both floors of the building in Tudan Polyclinic following complaints from people about its shortcomings.

Present to brief him during his walkabout for a first-hand look and to get feedback from the public were medical officer-in-charge Dr Hartini Ahmad and senior medical assistant Leo Bunsu.