THE Health Ministry (MOH) and the Defence Ministry (Mindef) are expected to decide on the proposed location for the construction of Hospital Sultanah Aminah 2 (HSA 2) in the next two or three months.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said discussions between the two ministries proceeded smoothly and Mindef also took note of the importance and need for the construction of HSA 2.

“We will have no problem (building HSA 2) once the location is finalised,” she said after the handover ceremony of a Johor health facility at HSA, today.

Also present were Health director-general, Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan and Johor Health Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon.

She said this when asked about the development of discussions with Mindef regarding its land at the proposed Skudai site for the construction of HSA 2.

Previously, Ling was reported to have said the state government was waiting for the outcome of discussions between the two ministries regarding the usage of the Mindef-owned land for the proposed HSA 2.

In another development, Zaliha said her ministry would refine the proposal to allow cancer patients to buy formula milk in the hospital at a cheaper price than in the market.

“We have to first look for information on the kind of milk suitable for cancer patients,” she said.

Earlier, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Salahuddin Ayub was reported to have said he would discuss with the health minister about allowing cancer patients in hospitals to buy formula milk at a cheaper price.

According to him, formula milk for cancer patients is not a controlled-priced item and it is expensive because it is imported. – Bernama, June 18, 2023.