By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, July 9: Sarawak will have three new hospitals with over 1,000 beds within the next five years, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said as part of the Sarawak government’s investment in healthcare, there will be three hospitals in Kuching that will expand their bed capacity to 300 units each.
“We have one State-owned hospital to be expanded with 300 beds. And then within the area, there will be a hotel and commercial area that is meant for patients not only from Sarawak but from our neighbours to come over here.
“It is privately run but owned by the State government,” he said when speaking during the opening ceremony of 8th Asia-Pacific Conference on Public Health (APCPH) held at Pullman Hotel here earlier tonight.
Abang Johari revealed that two additional hospitals will be located in Tabuan Jaya and Batu Lintang, respectively.
“The two more hospitals coming up, one is in Tabuan Jaya; that one will be 300 beds too. It will be run by a Singaporean company.
“And one more hospital in Batu Lintang area; 300 beds or so.
“In other words, within these five years, we have more than 1,000 additional beds to be run by the private sector,” he added.
Abang Johari also mentioned that upon readiness of these hospitals, they will attract patients from Kalimantan, Indonesia and other parts of Borneo, especially when Sarawak anticipates the establishment of its own airline.
“That’s why I think our friend from Singapore made a strategic move to set up their hospital here, because the cost of living here is slightly cheaper than Singapore.
“That will be part of our programme not only for Malaysia, for Sarawak, but for Asia-Pacific for that matter, and we provide the facilities for them.
“Additionally, I hope the standard of healthcare services by our doctors, are also on the mark,” he emphasised.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Abang Johari revealed that the said State-owned hospital refers to Normah Medical Specialist Centre’s new technologically advanced building containing the latest in cutting-edge medical equipment.
“Meanwhile, the other two hospitals located in Tabuan Jaya and Batu Lintang, belong to private sector; both are run by foreign groups.
“This means within five years, we will have over 1,000 additional beds including facilities to treat cancer too,” he elaborated.
Also present were Sarawak Health Department director Dr Veronica Lugah; Opar assemblyman Billy Sujang; Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng; 8th APCPH organising chairman Dr Mohd Azahadi Omar; College of Public Health Medicine Council vice president-cum-8th APCPH organising vice chairman Dr Tahir Aris; and Business Event Sarawak (BESarawak) chief executive officer Amelia Roziman. — DayakDaily
