KUCHING, Nov 19: Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii has warned that he would push for change if public toilets and also the maintenance and support services in government hospitals across the state are shabby.
“Currently, there is one company that is responsible not just for cleanliness of the toilets but also the maintenance and support services in public hospitals. The company was awarded the contract and concession to operate and manage Hospital Support Services (HSS) for 10 years since 2015 in all the 23 government hospitals in Sarawak for RM183 million per year,” he revealed in a press statement today.
“If they do not come up to par with the required quality and efficiency as stipulated in the contract, I will push for the contract to be reviewed and different industry players can participate through open tender in order to provide the best services for the convenience of the patients, staff and members of the public.”
Dr Yii opined that there should be healthy competition in any industry and that any monopoly, in principle, might compromise the delivery of services in certain aspects.
“I have raised this issue with the Deputy Minister of Health (Dr Lee Boon Chye),” he said.
He made this comment after visiting Sarawak General Hospital following public complaints about certain aspects of SGH, including the public toilets at the Specialists Clinic Block.
“We have received multiple complaints of the cleanliness of the toilet from the public. The conditions are far from ideal, and there is a lack of proper hygiene and cleanliness in those toilets even though it is a hospital’s toilet. It is not just affecting the patients but also family members and members of the public that come to the hospital,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, when he visited SGH’s Accident & Emergency Department, Dr Yii handed over several ‘aero link-bridges’ for the comfort of patients and family members.
He said his office had received many complaints about the long waiting time at the hospital to receive treatment and also the lack of proper seats for the public and patients.
He said the benches were from a “private donor” who wanted to share her gratitude and appreciation to all the workers at the hospital, including the doctors and nurses, who worked tirelessly every day to serve the public.
On allocations for the Health Ministry, Dr Yii said they were cut the past few years, and this had affected not just the delivery of services but also in terms of infrastructure development and maintenance of equipment.
“But this year, under the Pakatan Harapan government, we allocated the biggest healthcare budget in history to show how we prioritise the importance of healthcare,” he said. — DayakDaily
