MIRI: Newly-appointed Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni said the ministry would continue to give rural health care services priority to bring about equitable health care provision in Sarawak and Sabah.
“This includes upgrading medical services and health care facilities in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
“This improvement will included some ‘sick’ projects involving the development of health facilities in the rural areas of Sarawak, Lukanisman said after checking on work progress of the Miri Hospital extension building project on Saturday.
“In fact, Sarawak is in the process of drafting a policy paper on health autonomy for the state as enshrined under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), ” he pointed out.
He added that health reforms would be carried out by his ministry to enhance health care services in Sarawak via the White Paper (on healthcare enhancement in Sarawak).
“Give us (the unity government) some time to reform and enhance health care services especially in Sarawak and Sabah,” he said.
On the construction of Miri Hospital’s RM289.2 million extension building he said work is ahead of schedule.
“The project is ahead of schedule with 43.13 per cent complete, slightly ahead of the targeted 38.51 per cent,” he disclosed.
Earlier, Lukanisman visited the site where he was briefed on the project.
It was his first official working visit to Miri Hospital since being appointed Deputy Minister of Health recently.
The construction of the eight-floor building commenced on June 25 in 2020 and is expected to be completed 30 days ahead of the original date of April 29 next year.
Once completed, the new 328-bed extension is projected to relieve congestion at Bintulu Hospital, Marudi Hospital, Limbang Hospital and Lawas Hospital.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts I Datuk Sebastian Ting, director of Miri Hospital Dr Jack Wong , his deputy Dr Francis Heng, councillor Jeffery Phang who represented Minister of Transport Datuk Sri Lee Kim Shin and Sarawak Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) women chief Zulhaidah Suboh.
