Health Ministry Still Awaiting Confirmation On HSI's Reopening

BATU PAHAT, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry is still awaiting confirmation from the Works Ministry whether the Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI) in Johor Baharu, which had been closed since Sept 29, last year due to fungus problems, is now safe to be reopened.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said his ministry was prepared to reopen the more than RM500 million hospital if the Public Works Department (PWD) decided it would be safe to accommodate patients.
"We are still waiting (for PWD's confirmation). As soon as PWD hands it over to us, we will accept if the ministry is satisfied with the condition. However, up till now, there are no reports from PWD," he told reporters after visiting Tongkang Pecah Health Clinic here Friday.
The hospital in Pandan, Johor Baharu, was closed immediately after two months of operation following a fungus infestation which affected hospital equipment and walls, endangering the safety of its patients and staff.
The problem prompted the Works Ministry to order the contractor who built the hospital to carry out repair works before it was returned to the Health Ministry.
Prior to that, the construction of the 704-bed hospital, which acted as a referral centre for cancer patients in Southern Peninsular Malaysia, had been delayed several times since its construction began in 1999.