KUCHING: A total of RM17.26 billion is required to improve the health facilities throughout Sarawak.

According to Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Professor Dr. Sim Kui Hian, an estimation of RM9.25 billion and RM8.01 billion are required for upgrading and redevelopment works of hospital facilities and health clinics respectively.

“To date, 76 per cent or 206 out of 271 health clinics throughout Sarawak are in poor physical condition.

“An estimation of RM3.1 billion was projected by the Department in 2023 to redevelop these dilapidated health clinics,” he said during his ministerial winding-up session at the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting on Tuesday.

He said for the year 2025, the Federal Ministry of Health (MOH) has allocated RM48.8 million for upgrading, renovation and repair works of health clinics in Sarawak.

Of these, RM40 million is under the Bitara Madani initiative budget and RM7.5 million under the BP201 budget is for rural clinic services.

“A total of RM1.3 million under BP09 is allocated for upgrading and repair works for quarters,” he explained.

Datuk Amar Dr. Sim added that the Federal Government has allocated an additional RM50 million for six dilapidated health facility projects.

Currently, all these projects are in pre-implementation stage, and tender for four facilities will be called soon after the design is completed by the Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak.

Meanwhile, under the Rintis project initiative, two new clinics are approved with a total estimated cost of RM12.8 million.

“Klinik Kesihatan (KK) Nanga Atoi is currently under construction and is expected to complete by year end whereas KK Nanga Ngungun is currently under tender evaluation process,” Datuk Amar Dr. Sim said.

On the expansion of cardiology services through Sarawak, the Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government said MOH has approved RM14.5 million each via the 12th Malaysia Plan Fifth Rolling Plan to set up the Invasive Cardiac Laboratory (ICL) at Miri Hospital and Sibu Hospital.

“Apart from that, RM12.5 million was approved to replace the existing ICL at the Sarawak Heart Centre,” he added. -UKASnews