KUALA LUMPUR: The Sarawak government is putting RM1 billion of its own money as a loan to the federal government to set up the Sarawak Cancer Centre.
Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said the federal government can no longer use “no money” as an excuse to delay the much-needed facilities.
“In Sarawak, there are 5,000 cancer cases per year, and our patients make up 40 per cent of the National Cancer Centre in Putrajaya.
“We’ll need roughly 250 to 300 beds as the existing 150 beds are insufficient,” he pointed out.
He said this after paying a visit to the Federal Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin at Cenderasi Office on Thursday.
Dr Sim, who is also Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, hoped that this would finally resolve the issue of Sarawak needing a cancer centre of its own after multiple unsuccessful attempts to set up the facility in the state.
“I am looking forward for not just good news, but appointments of consultants and most importantly, actions,” he stressed.
Also present were Federal Deputy Health Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang and Sarawak Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Michael Tiang.
