THE Health Ministry will improve healthcare services, especially in terms of infrastructure, in Sabah and Sarawak.

Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said her ministry has taken note of the complaints and problems related to healthcare services in both the states.

She said these included the incident on Tuesday involving an elderly woman from Lawas who was reported to have died while being sent to Miri Hospital after the ambulance was unable to pass through the Sungai Tujoh Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Miri, Sarawak.

“We are aware of the healthcare services issues in Sabah and Sarawak, and we have also seen what caused it to happen in Lawas,” she told reporters after paying a working visit to Segamat Hospital today.

“It is about infrastructure… the trip from Lawas to the hospital in Miri is very long and there are several checkpoints to pass through, therefore, these are among the issues we need to try to look into.”

According to a news report, there was no one at the gate of the ICQS complex when the ambulance arrived there at around 1.30am.

Zaliha said efforts to improve the healthcare services need the cooperation of other government agencies.

In the meantime, she said she would examine one by one the earlier reported 13 “sick” projects under the ministry before any action is taken.

“We need to look into each ‘ailment’ and then go into detail,” she said.

“We need to look at the complaints and diagnosis, and only then we can do something to overcome the problems.”

In September, former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin was reported to have said efforts were underway in collaboration with the Works Ministry to find a way either to speed up the projects involved or through the process of appointing a “rescue contractor”.

Zaliha, who is also Sekijang MP, also said Segamat Hospital’s new RM90.5 million building will be operational early next year.

She said the building, which began construction in 2018, will be equipped with four operating theatres, an intensive care unit and a respiratory and hydrodynamics unit that can accommodate the needs of 223,000 residents in this district.

“With the facilities provided in this additional block, Segamat Hospital will be able to further expand its services to meet the needs of the residents in the district,” she said.

Also present during the visit were the ministry’s secretary-general, Harjeet Singh; Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah; and Johor Health director Dr Aman Rabu. – Bernama, December 10, 2022.