KLANG: A Health Ministry pilot project to revamp security at government hospitals is under way, with the effort at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR) yielding positive results.
Although the number of security guards at HTAR has been reduced from 265 to 100, this has been made up with 95 advanced CCTVs installed.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai gave the thumbs up to the project, saying that besides improving security it had also saved the Government a considerable amount in terms of costs.
“Although the number of guards has been reduced, efficient security and surveillance technology has more than made up for this.
“There have been fewer cases of harassments and thefts being reported in the hospital,” he said.
Liow said the ministry would look into expanding the project to other hospitals when a full report on the pilot project was evaluated at the end of the year.
Chico Force chief executive officer Datuk Seri Juniur Khoo Gee Chongsaid it took about three years for the firm to study and execute the plan.
“There was a lot to consider in installing these cameras as the hospital is vast, with many entry and exit points,” he said.
He said two guards manned the control room in the hospital round-the-clock, working in three shifts to monitor the real-time surveillance cameras.
Khoo said each month's recordings were sent to the firm's headquarters for “re-inspection”.
He said that previously, there were cases of stolen medical equipment, with five to 10 police reports lodged every month.
HTAR director Dr Sukumaran Mahesan said the hospital was giving its full cooperation to the firm to ensure safety at the hospital.
Selangor deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk A. Thaiveegansaid no crime had been reported within the hospital since the revamp was implemented in February.
If the project is implemented in all 135 public hospitals in the country, the Government stands to save an estimated RM120mil on security expenses in hospitals.
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