MIRI: The federal government is committed to improving health care services as a central component of the nation’s development.
“We are fully aware of the importance of this service (health care) to the people especially in the rural areas in Sarawak,” said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
He reckoned that the rural communities have long struggled for access to quality health care services.
Speaking to reporters during his working visit to Miri Hospital yesterday, Dr Dzulkefly said the federal government was fully aware of the need for health facilities to the people. Hence the government would continue to focus on implementing initiatives and improved health care facilities in Sarawak.
He revealed that a tender evaluation process to build a new Miri Hospital valued at RM328million has been completed.
“It is in the tendering stages and tender will be awarded once the process is completed,” he said.
He also expressed the need to transform all health clinics in this division in order to tackle outbreak of diseases.
“We need to transform 35 health clinics in Miri to better improve the health care services here ,” he said.
Earlier, Dr Dzulkefly was in Lawas , where he visited the Lawas Hospital.
He disclosed that the ministry has identified a site for the construction of the long-delayed new hospital for Lawas.
He said construction of the new Lawas hospital was supposed to start in 2011 and was scheduled for completion in 2016 but has been delayed ever since.
Dr Dzulkefly was accompanied during the visit by Miri MP Dr Micheal Teo, Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon and Miri Hospital director Dr Jack Wong.
