CM looks into lack of hospital beds

NST: KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is working closely with the Health Ministry to seek the best solution to the current shortage of hospital beds after the closure of the tower block of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital four months ago.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the state government was recommending that patients be placed at medical facilities closer to the city.
He also said the state government would also work with the ministry in providing suitable locations for such facilities.
He had earlier opened the Masterskill College of Nursing and Health at Plaza Juta, near here yesterday where he had told reporters that several proposals were being looked at to solve the problem.
To an earlier question on whether there was an offer to purchase the privately-owned Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) as indicated previously, Musa said it was up to the ministry to make a decision.
The tower block, which housed 250 beds, eight surgery rooms, radiology services and several other key facilities, was deemed unsafe by Ikram Group Sdn Bhd, which was appointed by the ministry to assess the building.
While some patients are putting up at hospitals near the city, others have had to be sent to the Beaufort and Keningau hospitals which are more than two hours away by road.