MIRI: Construction work on Miri Hospital’s extension building is on track despite being delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, said Deputy Health Minister II Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.
He explained that the project, which costs RM298.2 million, resumed work on June 25.
“I’m happy with the progress. There are no delays but instead, we are ahead of time and things are going well,” he said on Saturday after a site visit.
Aaron was accompanied by Miri Hospital director Dr Jack Wong Siew Yu and Miri Health officer Dr P Raviwharmman Packierisamy.
The new extension building is located next to the present Miri Hospital.
“Currently, the project’s progress is at 0.29 percent,” he said, adding that it is expected to be completed by October 18, 2023.
Once completed, the new building would help Miri Hospital to address the current shortage of beds for patients.
The new seven-floor building will be able to accommodate 328 beds.
Meanwhile, on the number of Covid-19 samples tested per day, Miri Hospital has collected 200 swabs.
“With the extra facilities contributed by private companies, we now have a laboratory which allows us to expedite the time it takes to process samples within 48 hours after the sample is taken,” said Aaron.
He revealed that for Sarawak, the total samples collected and tested per day is 36,000.
“We don’t have to send these samples to Kota Kinabalu or Kuching anymore, because it can be done here at Miri Hospital.”
