Subra: Govt has allocated RM1.5b to upgrade hospitals in 2015

SEGAMAT: The government has allocated RM1.5 billion to build and upgrade hospitals and health facilities throughout the country next year in efforts to provide the best health service to the people.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said this included upgrading old hospitals and building new ones to meet the needs of the local community.
"These include building the Pasir Gudang Hospital and upgrading several hospitals in Johor," he told reporters at the Palong Timur Village Clinic, Batu Anam, here today.
At the same time, the ministry would also construct a new building at the Penang Hospital to replace the children and women's wards.
"The building is 125 years-old and the Public Works Department (JKR) has found cracks in several parts of its structure.
The JKR has informed that the hospital can no longer be used. If possible, the ministry will preserve the building as it is the oldest hospital in the country and has much history," he said
At the same time, he also announced the upgrading of the Felda Palong Timur Village Clinic to a Health Clinic Type 5.
Subramaniam, who is also the Member of Parliament for Segamat, said works to upgrade the clinic, costing RM20 million, will begin next year and was due for completion by early 2016.
Upgrading the health facilities would benefit 2,000 families in the village as well as the nearby villages, who previously had to travel 90 minutes to Segamat Hospital for emergency and follow-up treatment.
"With the new amenities, I hope the quality of health care for residents would be better and their productivity improve," Dr Subramaniam said.
The Health Clinic Type 5 will provide 26 units of living quarters as well as ambulance service, emergency treatment and out-patient care.
Dr Subramaniam also visited the Segamat Polyclinic and Segamat Hospital. – Bernama