By Christine T
KUCHING, Oct 20: Petra Jaya Hospital is 91.02 per cent complete and is targeted for completion by Dec 14, with contractors finalising internal finishing works ahead of medical equipment installation.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the project’s physical progress stands at 91.02 per cent as at Sept 25, but the revised completion date after its seventh extension of time (EOT) is Dec 14.
“The contractors are finalising the internal finishing, and preparing for the installation of medical equipment,” he said when delivering his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly sitting here today.
Meanwhile, the new Lawas Hospital began operations on Sept 7 after completing its clinical block as of Sept 30.
On primary healthcare facilities, the Rintis Project initiative approved two new clinics, the Nanga Atoi health clinic in Saratok and the Nanga Ngungun health clinic in Kanowit, at a combined estimated cost of RM12.8 million.
The Nanga Ngungun health clinic is expected to be handed over before the end of this year, while the new Tabuan Jaya health clinic has been operating since July 19.
The Lawas health clinic is also in its final phase and is expected to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2026.
“The federal government has allocated RM50 million for the upgrading of six dilapidated health facility projects in Sarawak,” Dr Sim said.
Three projects, involving the Tepus health clinic in Selangau, the Tanjung Bijat health clinic in Sri Aman, and the Tun Abang Haji Openg health clinic in Subis, are undergoing tender evaluation, with letters of acceptance expected to be issued soon.
Construction of an isolation ward at the emergency and trauma department of Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) began on Sept 28 and is expected to take 13 months to complete.
Meanwhile, construction of the Kuala Lawas health clinic, which began on July 20, is expected to be completed within 18 months.
For 2026, the Ministry of Health has allocated approximately RM9.35 million to upgrade, renovate, and repair 29 health clinics and one district health office in Sarawak.
A further RM2.4 million has been allocated for repairs and upgrades involving 14 quarters and eight barrack units at the Bario health clinic, the Nanga Mujong health clinic in Kapit, and the Belawai health clinic in Tanjung Manis. All projects are under implementation and expected to be completed by the end of this year.
On healthcare digitalisation, Dr Sim said 175 clinics, representing 64.8 per cent of Sarawak’s primary healthcare facilities, had been digitalised, with 154 using the cloud-based clinic management system.
Of the 154 clinics, the Sarawak government invested RM10 million in information and communications technology hardware and digital infrastructure upgrades, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas, benefiting 142 clinics.
He said Sarawak hoped to receive a fair share of the RM1 billion digitalisation allocation under the federal Budget 2027, as the State continues advancing its healthcare digitalisation agenda. — DayakDaily
