RM448.4 mln for Health Dept under 10MP — Soon Koh

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THE Health Department has received an allocation of RM448.4 million under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) to implement 43 projects in the state.

In disclosing this, Minister of Local Government and Community Development Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said the projects include the construction of 23 new clinics, upgrading of 11 hospitals, three new hospitals, a pharmaceutical store and two additional quarters.

He added that the projects also include a mobile dental squad for primary schools, water supply fluoridation and the construction of a new state Health Department complex at Jalan Diplomatik.

“Out of the 43 projects, 16 (projects) have been completed with one ahead of schedule, 10 on schedule, eight behind schedule and the remaining eight are currently under planning stages and expected to commence next year,” he told the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) in his winding-up speech yesterday.

Wong also said state Health Department had also received another RM21 million for minor works to upgrade healthcare services, like replacing obsolete biomedical equipment at selected hospitals and clinics and repairing of seven clinics and quarters for staff across the state.

On the progress of the RM495-million Petra Jaya hospital, Wong told the august house that the earthwork was three per cent completed as of September.

On the RM200-million Sri Aman hospital, Wong disclosed that the tender process for phase II of the project had been completed, while the decanting process for the RM89.5-million Lawas hospital had been completed and was currently in phase IIA which covers demolition, earthworks and construction of retaining walls.

Wong also brought to the attention of the august house that 218 out of the 245 specialist posts in the state had been filled as of first quarter of this year.

According to him, the state was still short of gynaecologists, surgeons, paediatricians, anaesthesiologists, orthopaedics and radiologists.