AN allocation of RM19 million for the repair of 39 dilapidated clinics in Sarawak, including six urban dilapidated ones, has been set aside this year.
Deputy Minister For Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang said that under this fund, one of these 39 clinics will be rebuilt.
“The remaining 38 projects will involve the upgrading and improvement of infrastructures, acquiring equipment and enhancing medical services in underserved areas,” he said during a question-and-answer session when replying Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh (GPS-Bawang Assan) today.
Earlier, Wong asked if there had been any definite plan to rehabilitate and upgrade the physically poor and ill-equipped rural clinics in Sarawak.
Tiang said the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MoH) had approved a total of 39 projects in Sarawak in 2023.
“These projects are valued at RM8.497 million for Sarawak to upgrade dilapidated clinics and healthcare facilities such as repair part of the premises infrastructure, provision of treated water, residing words and many more,” he said.
In reply to a supplementary question about the initiative to improve healthcare services in rural Sarawak, Tiang said to promote health equity, the Sarawak State Health Department has implemented a variety of outreach programmes.
“Providing regular medical care to remote areas through the Flying Doctor Service (FDS), Village Health Team (VHT), Rural Clinic Visiting Doctor (RCVD) and empowering village health representatives through the village health representatives (WKK) programmes are also included.”
In reply to a second supplementary question on the definition of dilapidated, Tiang said a clinic will be deemed as dilapidated based on poor physical condition of the clinic building.
“These include dilapidated or severely damaged structures, dysfunctional mechanical electrical system which directly affect the clinic operations, or other safety risks like structural settlement, building cracks and fire hazard,” he added.
