KUCHING: Construction work on the Siburan health clinic will begin, and it is expected to be completed by December 2021.
The RM28.7 million medical facility would be a welcome sight as the current clinic, built in 1964, cannot cope with the number of patients and is often congested.
The new clinic, which sits on a 7.74-acre land, will be equipped with, among others, outpatient clinic, maternal and child health clinic, dental clinic, laboratory, including x-ray services.
It will also include staff quarters, public parking lots, ambulance and staff parking.
Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye was present to perform the earth-breaking ceremony at the project site behind Eastern Mall in Siburan yesterday.
“This clinic can accommodate up to 500 patients daily,” he told reporters.
When asked whether there would be enough doctors at the new facility, Dr Lee said the
current health clinic had specialists and medical officers, and they would be transferred to the new one.
“We will post more doctors and medical staff there.
“We are convinced that the Public Services Department (JPA) would allow us to increase the number of staff postings.
“We will have more doctors and nurses in the years to come,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, in the pipeline, he said several health clinics and hospitals would also be constructed in the state.
“The other health clinics to start construction this year include the ones in Tabuan Jaya, Serian and Daro,” he said.
He added that for the Sri Aman and Petra Jaya hospitals, a new contractor had been appointed and construction work would commence this year.
He said the government would also add a new block to Miri Hospital, and nine other rural clinics that would be built over the next few years.
He also said the burns unit at Bintulu Hospital was just completed and expected to be operational soon.
Also present were Health Ministry’s Planning Division director Dr Nordin Saleh, Sarawak Health Department director Dr Jamilah Hashim, Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin, Miri MP Dr Michael Teo, and Tan Kai, a political secretary to the Chief Minister.
