KUCHING: The Health Ministry will be implementing several new development projects, including the proposed Cancer Centre in Sarawak under Budget 2024.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the federal government would support Sarawak’s desire to have such a centre in the state.
He said this when tabling Budget 2024 – under the theme “Madani Economy: Empowering the People” in Dewan Rakyat here today; however, he did not announce any specific allocation.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said the Health Ministry has been allocated RM41.2 billion under the budget next year, compared with RM36.3 billion this year, which was the biggest increase among ministries.
He said RM5.5 billion would be set aside to obtain supplies of medicine, materials, consumables, reagents and vaccines.
“Malaysia has not yet met the ratio of one doctor to 400 patients. Thus, the accessibility of health facilities will continue to increase and improve to disperse congestion,” he said.
Apart from the Cancer Centre in Sarawak, other new development projects which would be implemented next year included Universiti Sains Malaysia Teaching Hospital Complex (USIM) Phase 1 in Johor (RM938 million); preliminary work for the construction of Sultana Amina Hospital 2 in Johor; additional Pathology Block at Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital in Kelantan (RM175 million); Emergency and Trauma Department (ETD) additional building at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor.
In addition, five new health clinics, including in several states, are expected to cost about RM150 million.
On road connectivity in Sabah and Sarawak, Anwar hoped that the construction of Phase 2 of Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR), involving 320-kilometre with RM7.4 billion would begin end of this year.
“God willing, Sarawak’s Pan Borneo Highway will be fully completed next year,” he added.
