By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 27: Marudi Hospital, a non-specialist hospital with 54 beds and in operation since 1964, has the potential to be upgraded as it has an operating theatre where elective and emergency surgical operations can be carried out that in turn could reduce referrals and congestion in specialist hospitals.
Ministry of Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah however pointed out that there were constraints in terms of facilities and assets that needed to be improved.
“This is to ensure ‘accessible, available, safe, timely and affordable’ surgical procedures and services can be delivered more effectively in line with the Global Surgery Initiative (GSI).
“Several hospitals are in the implementation phase of Global Surgery where some medical officers trained in hospitals without specialists are given ‘privilege’ in carrying out basic surgery and emergency surgery.
“These hospitals are also currently under an infrastructure upgrading phase in preparation for upgrading specialist services from basic services,” he said in separate statements shared on social media following a working visit to Sarawak on Sunday (Sept 25).
Dr Noor Hisham added that a systematic plan is being developed to enable basic surgical services to be provided in non-specialist hospitals through continuous training and upgrade of appropriate infrastructure and equipment.
“Through this Global Surgery and Cluster Hospital, it can reduce referrals and congestion in (major) specialist hospitals and most importantly, the treatment provided is close to the community,” he said.
Dr Noor Hisham noted that Marudi Hospital, which has been in operation since Oct 15, 1964, is a non-lead hospital under the Northern Sarawak Hospital Cluster which provides health services to the community in Marudi district and Mulu sub-district.
Within this facility, there are a district health clinic, Marudi mother and child clinic, TBCP clinic and Marudi dental clinic. The main referral hospital is Miri Hospital located 64km away that can be reached by road and air.
In terms of human resource capacity, Marudi Hospital has 175 staff consisting of nine medical officers, 52 nurses, 19 assistant medical officers, seven pharmacy officers and the rest are hospital support staff.
In terms of health services, Marudi Hospital offers services such as Outpatient Treatment Unit including specialist clinic visits, Inpatient Treatment Unit (men’s ward, women’s ward, children’s ward and maternity ward), Emergency and Trauma Unit, Operating Room Unit and CSSD, Hemodialysis Unit, Pathology Unit, Pharmacy Unit, Rehabilitation Unit and Radiology Unit.
Apart from Marudi Hospital, Dr Noor Hisham also visited Lawas Hospital, Limbang Hospital, and Miri Hospital. — DayakDaily
