Assistant Minister of Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin (right) presents Dr Subramaniam with a request for the Health Ministry to upgrade Miri Hospital and Tudan Polyclinic.
MIRI: The Health Ministry will consult the Sarawak state government to discuss on the possibility of using alternative energy to improve the quality of health services in the state’s interior.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said among the things to be discussed was the possibility of using solar energy to ensure there would be no power or clean water supply interruption for rural health clinics.
“I have asked the Sarawak Health Department to provide a list of health clinics that need it but priority will be given to the critical ones,” he told reporters after a working visit to the Miri Hospital here today (Feb 26).
He said the federal government would also discuss with the Sarawak government to use water resources near the rural health clinics as an immediate measure to deal with the problem of clean water in the interior.
Dr Subramaniam gave assurance that the two issues would be resolved as soon as possible for the convenience of patients and health clinic personnel in the interior.
On Miri city’s health infrastructure projects, he said a new health clinic would be built at a cost of RM50 million.
He said a site had been identified for the Miri City health clinic near the Miri Hospital, which is scheduled for completion fully within four years.
On the Miri Hospital, he said it would have an additional block to accommodate two operating theatres costing RM10 million and expected to be ready by August this year.
He said the project to increase the number of beds to 325, facilities at specialist clinic as well as children and maternity clinics at the hospital had been approved under the 11th Malaysia Plan at a cost of RM350 million.
It is expected to be completed within four years. – Bernama