SIBU: The Ministry of Health has acknowledged the congestion issue at the current health clinic in Sarikei, which is caused by the growing number of patients reaching 600 per day.
In response to Senator Roderick Wong Siew Lead’s question during the Dewan Negara sitting, the ministry stated that it planned to address the problem by constructing a larger health clinic.
“For the time being, the ministry is still identifying a suitable site for this project,” it said.
Wong also asked about the possibility of upgrading the old Sarikei Hospital to provide more parking spaces.
The ministry clarified that it did not have any development projects planned for the old hospital as it would be handed over to the Sarawak government by the end of 2027.
“The new Sarikei Hospital, located approximately six kilometres away, has been operational since 2006.
“To mitigate the parking shortage, the Sarikei Health Clinic has allowed its patients to utilise the 60 parking lots at the old Sarikei Hospital, which is adjacent to the clinic.
“The old hospital building has been repurposed as the pharmacy office. However, as per the land acquisition agreement for the new hospital, the old site will be transferred to the Sarawak government in 2027,” it said.
The Ministry of Health said it had implemented several initiatives in its efforts to address the parking issue.
These included introducing an appointment system, establishing virtual clinics, delivering medicines by post, encouraging the use of public transportation or e-hailing services by patients and staff, and urging patients to utilise the public parking area located approximately 100 metres away from the clinic.
Wong, meanwhile, urged the ministry to expedite the construction of a new health clinic at the Bayang junction and called upon the Sarawak government to create additional parking spaces at the old Sarikei Hospital once the land was handed over to the state.
