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MIRI – The federal Health Ministry has given the green-light to upgrade district hospitals in Miri and Sibu to the status of “regional hospitals”, equipped with specialist treatment facilities.
Sibu MP Oscar Ling said the approval was obtained last week in a written reply from the ministry addressed to him.
“I raised the issue during the Dewan Rakyat sitting, that Sarawak needs to have regional hospitals in Sibu and Miri due to the growing health and medical needs because at present, only the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) in Kuching have specialist wards.
“The SGH is the only regional hospital in Sarawak and it is not enough to cater to the central and northern Sarawak population.
“The Health Ministry has responded by stating that the district hospitals in Sibu and Miri have been approved to be upgraded into regional hospitals equipped with specialist treatment facilities.
“This is good news for the people of central and northern Sarawak,” the DAP lawmaker told reporters in Sibu last night.
It has also been announced that a new field hospital will be constructed at the SGH compound.
The federal-funded project is aimed at overcoming patient congestion due to the shortage of beds at SGH.
Federal Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni yesterday said the new field hospital will have wards with 86 beds. – The Vibes, April 2, 2023