Materia Medica Malaysiana

51 health projects completed

Kota Kinabalu: Fifty-one projects or 31 per cent of the 164 health-related projects identified for Sabah under the Eighth Malaysia Plan (8MP) have been completed, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said.

The projects included two hospitals in Keningau and Lahad Datu besides rural clinics and other facilities, he said.

He said 26 other facilities scheduled for implementation were under construction, including hospitals in Pitas, Kuala Penyu and Kunak while 87 other projects were still at the planning stage.

“Overall, Sabah received RM1.2 billion from a total of RM9.5 billion under the 8MP allocations to the Ministry, which is the biggest compared to other states,” said Dr Chua.

On Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s re-development projects, Dr Chua said it had begun since 1992 over a period of 18 years.

As of now, RM51 million had been spent for various facilities including a post-graduate centre, a car park complex, renovations to the surgical hall, the intensive care unit, as well as upgrading infrastructure such as the sewerage system.

A RM74 million specialist clinic on a four-storey block would also be part of the re-development project.

“Piling works for the block had been completed but construction has not started yet. There has been a delay...it is not true that the project has been halted due to lack of funds. The construction will start either end of the year or early next year,” he said.