LAWAS: It will be a great relief for the folk here once the long-delayed Lawas Hospital project is completed in 2023.
The hospital began operating in May 16, 1969 and went on for 50 years as a District Hospital without a specialist. At present, the hospital is operating at full capacity and is in a very poor condition.
Works Minister Baru Bian said the Health Ministry has approved an allocation of RM175 million for the construction of a new hospital to be equipped with 76 beds and would take 182 weeks to complete.
“The Finance Ministry has approved the tender for the new hospital project on Dec 13 and work is scheduled to begin in February next year and expected to be completed by August 2023,” he said when officiating at the project here yesterday.
He added that the federal government had studied the best mechanism for improving health services, especially giving priority to cases requiring urgent treatment.
“The new hospital will be built using the Design and Build method through an open tender contractor and through the Pre-Qualification (PreQ) process.”
He pointed out that without upgrading the hospital, residents in the district are forced to go to hospitals in Miri or Kota Kinabalu to seek specialist services to treat chronic and serious illnesses.
“This project has been delayed since 2015 and has a long history in the tender process, ranging from direct negotiations, limited tenders and various reasons due to several factors. Finally, the project has been decided to be open tendered,” he said.
He revealed that the federal government was aware of the problems faced by those living in the interiors of Lawas. “Thus, the construction of the new hospital demonstrates the government’s commitment to provide the best healthcare and improve the health of the rural population.”
Baru also announced that his ministry managed to get the funding and approval to upgrade the Long Sukang Clinic, which is now under construction.
Also present were Baru’s wife Yiu Ching Sieu, Public Works Department deputy director general Zairul Azidin Badri and State Health Department deputy director Paul Sazin Riget.
