By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 3: The Sarawak government is going to build a new state-of-the-art Normah Hospital, says Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the government will seek the advice from specialists in terms of the construction of  the building as well as the necessary IT facilities to be equipped in it.
“Next to the hospital, we will have a hotel that will provide accommodation to patients as well as those who are with them (care-providers).
“This will cost a lot of money (but) don’t worry. I will try to find the money,” he said during the launching of new cardiovascular laboratory (Cathlab), MSCT and MRI at Normah Medical Specialist Centre broadcast live on Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) Facebook page today.
He further revealed that the new hospital will take into account the factors of environment-friendly during patients” treatment and post treatment.
“So (the hospital) has to be near a river. If it is near a river, of course there will be sort of like a marina, and perhaps, a shopping complex and eateries near the building.
“With that sort of environment, I think the disease can also go away. So I can assure you today that I’m going to build a new Normah building and that will be a state-of-the-art hospital,” he said.
At the same time, Abang Johari shared that the Sarawak government would increase integration with the Normah Medical Specialist Centre through an artificial intelligence (AI) system.
He stressed that robots have been used in medicine for more than 30 years ranging from simple laboratory robots to highly complex surgical robots that can either aid a human surgeon or execute operations, as well as predict a disease earlier where clinicians can diagnose and intervene sooner to reduce the impact of the disease, resulting in better patient wellbeing.
Abang Johari shared his experience of witnessing AI technology being tested in real-time medication at a lab in Italy.
“In that lab, I saw this equipment which allow doctors in Italy to interact with the surgeon of the United States in real time.
“And they just used this virtual reality (VR) to spot where the diseases are, and at the same time to find solution to the problem faced by the patient.
“I saw it in real life and that is why I believe in this technology in medical care.
“(Perhaps, one day) the doctor can be in United States and the patient can be in Normah and that is going to be the trend in the future,” said Abang Johari, sharing his vision of the the new Normah Specialist Hospital.
He hoped that the event will pave way for Normah Medical Specialist Centre to become the first hospital in Borneo to incorporate robotic intelligence in rehabilitation where cyborgs are used to assist patient with paralysis or weakening limbs to regain the ability to walk again.
Also present were Deputy Premier-cum-Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian; State Secretary-cum-Sarawak Medical Centre Sdn Bhd chairman Dato Sri Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; State Financial Secretary-cum-Sarawak Medical Centre Sdn Bhd board member Dato Sri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar; and Normah Medical Specialist Centre chief executive officer and managing director Datuk Dr Au Yong Kien Hoe. — DayakDaily
