Materia Medica Malaysiana

Sandakan hospital to be upgraded

SANDAKAN: The Health Ministry has identified several critical facilities for upgrading next year at the Duchess of Kent Hospital here to further improve its services.

Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the ministry had approved a plan to furnish the hospital with a CT scan unit at a cost of RM2.4mil and to build 48 units of staff quarters next year.

Dr Chua, who visited the hospital yesterday, said the ministry had also given the green light for the hospital to buy two haemodialysis machines.

He said four of the 12 projects listed in the Ninth Malaysia Plan to be implemented next year had also been approved.

Among the projects are the setting up of a daily treatment centre and an ear, nose and throat (ENT) and ophthalmology ward that will cost a total of RM100,000.

He said the hospital would also have a radiology specialist's room and a waiting area.

Dr Chua also called on the hospital staff to provide good service to those seeking treatment so as to complement the Government’s efforts in equipping the hospital with the latest facilities.

He said while his ministry spent about RM6.8bil a year, its revenue was only RM125mil.

“About 79% of the health cost is subsidised by the Government,” said Dr Chua, who will be visiting the Tawau and Kota Belud hospitals over the next two days.