ASSAR-BDA to expand hospital facility to meet growing demand

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KUCHING: Permodalan ASSAR Sdn Bhd (ASSAR) in collaboration with Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) will expand its hospital facility on a site adjacent to its current 19-Bed specialist hospital to meet the growing healthcare needs in Bintulu.

According to a statement the expansion would incorporate modern state of the art healthcare facilities and would be built soon in tandem with the growth of population and in conjunction with the industrial and commercial development related to Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) in Bintulu Division.

There would be commercial lots built to complement the development needs. The estimated RM40 million hospital extension project would involve the development of specialist treatment facilities, general healthcare amenities for the rapidly developing area.

The current hospital facility is operated by Columbia Asia Sdn Bhd a US based medical and health provider established since 1996. It is a leading private healthcare group which offers optimum and affordable medical services via its network of community hospitals and clinics. Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who officiated the launch of the existing facilities at the private hospital in April 2011, had endorsed ASSAR-BDA application for future expansion and recently approved the masterplan for the expansion.

The expansion of medical facilities at the hospital strengthens the commitment to provide affordable healthcare to Bintulu and adjacent divisions of Sibu and Miri and in preparation for health needs arising from the economic strides seen from the perspective of SCORE development in central Sarawak.

In tandem with the extension, commercial shop lots and a budget hotel will be built adjacent to provide comprehensive support and public amenities for the overall needs of the rapidly growing local population.

ASSAR-BDA, via a joint development initiative will work with its main contractor, Inner City Development Sdn Bhd to develop the project. According to a spokesperson from ASSAR, the commercial lots with an estimated gross development value of RM56.5 million would support and accelerate the long term commercial growth in the Kidurong area and spur economic activities.

The shop lots measuring 70 feet by 20 feet, slated to be completed in about two years, would be for amenities such as financial institutions, pharmacies and convenience stores which would play a supporting role to the hospital.

The commercial lots would attract more business and employment opportunities to the rapidly growing economy in the area and would be offered for sale or lease in the near future, the company said. The entire development site, sited on an overall land area of approximately 11.57 acres, is strategically located along Jalan Tan Sri Ikhwan in Tanjung Kidurong, about four kilometres from Bintulu town centre.

The development area is conducive to better living for the local community as various key developments such as SMK Kidurong and SRK Kidurong and residential schemes such as Taman Matahari and Taman PelabuhanBintulu are in the vicinity.

The hospital extension will provide high standard healthcare services to cater for the growing number of residents within the community as well as the increased number of population in the region as Bintulu continues as a key economic growth area in the state.

The development will provide expanded facilities that will meet the growing demands of the local community, particularly those who require treatment from specialists.