RM26 mln polyclinic

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SIBU: A new polyclinic costing RM26 million will be built in Sibu Jaya residential area to better serve the residents there, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai announced yesterday.

READY TO SERVE: Liow (front row, fifth left), Hui Lau (second left) and others make the 1Malaysia gesture during a visit to the 1Malaysia Clinic in Sungai Bidut. — Photo by Peter Boon

Liow said works on the project would start next year, the first year of the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP); and would be completed in two years.

Saying that the Public Works Department was calling for tender, he added that work would commence immediately after the tender had been awarded.

“This clinic will have more doctors,” he told a press conference after visiting the 1Malaysia Clinic in Sungai Bidut, near here.

Meanwhile, he said the 1Malaysia clinic had attended to more than 3,000 patients since its opening on Sept 16.  He pointed out that about 50 patients sought treatment daily, noting the clinic was well designed with ample space for patients.

He added that the government was confident of building more 1Malaysia clinics in Sarawak.

“Under the 10MP, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has announced that the Health Ministry will build another 50 1Malaysia Clinics nationwide.

“And for next year, we will be launching 25 and so, we are considering one in Sibu,” he said, noting that Minister of Environment and Public Health Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh and SMC works and traffic standing committee chairman Robert Lau Hui Yew had made requests to increase the number of 1Malaysia clinics in Sibu.

As such, his working visit here was also to assess and study the needs for such facility in Sibu.

When asked if 1Malaysia clinics would be built in rural areas, he replied in Sarawak the services of flying doctors were available.