HOW ARE YOU?: Liow (left) greets an elderly man at the Tanah Puteh Clinic. — Photo by Tan Song Wei
KUCHING: The RM500,000 project to upgrade Tanah Puteh Clinic at Jalan Kwong Lee Bank is expected to start anytime soon.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai yesterday said the extended building block would be completed within this year.
“The condition of Tanah Puteh Clinic calls for immediate action. There is not enough space for patients, some of whom have to stand while waiting for their turn.
“I have given the instruction to carry out the upgrading project immediately to widen the space so as to provide a healthy and better environment for patients,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the clinic, Liow said the ministry would also look into upgrading the clinic’s car park area.
He revealed that the government was also planning to set up a new clinic in Petra Jaya.
“I understand that some of the patients at Tanah Puteh Clinic are from Petra Jaya. Therefore, we hope the new clinic in Petra Jaya will help ease overcrowding at Tanah Puteh Clinic.”
On the 1Malaysia Clinic, Liow said to-date there are seven such clinics operating throughout Sarawak.
He said the government would look into every request for the 1Malaysia Clinic to widen the medical service to the people.