LIMBANG: The proposed development of Limbang Hospital has been included in the 4th Rolling Plan (RP4) of the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12).

Deputy Health Minister, Dato Lukanisman Awang Sauni said the hospital development project will take time, and the plan will be brought forward to RMK13 to secure the necessary allocation.

“The requested allocation under RMK13 is intended for the development of the hospital as well as a Type 3 clinic or polyclinic.

“This is in line with discussions under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), where each division is required to have a comprehensive clinic, or polyclinic,” he explained.

He told reporters following a working visit to the Limbang Hospital on Thursday.

The Member of Parliament of Sibuti added that after the completion of preliminary work, the number of beds required will be determined.

“We may need more than 200 beds to enable Limbang Hospital to become a minor specialist hospital in the future,” he stated.

Dato Lukanisman said that the plan for Limbang Hospital includes constructing a new building block, similar to Miri Hospital, which would house clinical wards, allowing for the addition of more specialisations in the future.

“This development will utilise the existing Limbang Hospital site, meaning it will be carried out in phases, and we already have the plan in place.

“Once the preliminary work is completed, we will bring the proposal to the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Economy to obtain approval for the upgrading works.

“I expect that the project will commence under RMK13, and the estimated cost will be made known after the preliminary work is completed, which will also determine how many beds can be provided,” he said.

Also present were Sarawak State Health Director, Dr Veronica Lugah, Limbang Hospital Director, Dr Syed Satahkatullah Mohd Kalik, and Limbang Division Health Officer, Dr Norliza Jusoh. -UKASnews