CM launches new radiology building of Sandakan hospital

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Shafie being briefed by a Radiology Department personnel on the function of fluoroscopy radiology imaging machine during his tour to the department building at Duchess of Kent Hospital Sandakan on Monday.

SANDAKAN: Before the creation of the radiology building at the Duchess of Kent Hospital (DOKH) here, patients here had to travel to Kota Kinabalu and sometimes even further to Kuala Lumpur to avail of the services of a mammography machine, a CT scan machine, a fluoroscopy machine, or an ultrasonography machine.

The building in DOKH was previously the haemodialysis centre and store before it was upgraded into a radiology building. When it began operation on August 7, 2018, until September 18, 971 patients have utilised the new facilities available at the radiology building.

Yesterday, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal officially launched the new radiology building here which cost RM7.6 million and equipped with a CT Scan (RM1.5 million), a mammography machine (RM1.3 million), a fluoroscopy machine worth (RM1.8 million) and an ultrasonography machine (RM185,000).

According to Shafie, the new service at the hospital here will allow patients from Sandakan and nearby districts like Beluran, Kinabatangan, Telupid and Tongod to utilise the facilities available at the new radiology building.

“Efforts (by the government) such as this will be increased so that more (healthcare) services could be made available to patients who are living in urban and rural areas of Sabah.

“These utilities and medical equipment will enable doctors to provide more accurate diagnosis of a patient’s health condition. We (the State Government) will be discussing with the Health Ministry at the Federal level for healthcare system in Sabah to be given priority.

“We are aware that the medical sector in Peninsular Malaysia is far more advanced than what we have in Sabah, therefore, it is time for Sabah to be given attention (in healthcare), and for healthcare services to be increased. I am sure it could be done in Sabah with good collaboration between the State and Federal Governments as we have the same goal, which is to provide for the best healthcare service to Malaysians,” he said.

Also present at the launching ceremony were Minister of Health and People’s Well-being, Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt; Minister of Youth and Sports, Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung; Assistant Minister in the Chief

Minister’s Department, Arifin Asgali; Assistant Youth and Sports Minister, Arunarnsin Taib; Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing, George Hiew Vun Zin; Sandakan Municipal Council president Datuk Peter Hii Chang Lik, and Health Department director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi; DOKH director Dr Francis Paul and Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong Ket Kiun.

Meanwhile, Shafie, in his speech, expressed his hopes that the medical facilities here would help locals seek for professional medical attention instead of going for uncertain traditional solutions, such as the services of a ‘bomoh’.

“I hope these medical facilities will be able to help patients here to identify their sickness and body condition. This is necessary, in line with the development of science and technology. People in the past have resorted to ‘bomohs’ and other traditional methods and beliefs, which may not be as effective and may have caused some deaths.

“So these equipment are in line with the development of science and technology that has been brought to the locals. I hope the locals will seek professional medical attention instead of believing in ‘bomohs’ and other beliefs,” he added.