VIP visit: Dr Zaliha checking out new health facilities at Hospital Segamat in Johor. — Bernama
SEGAMAT: The Health Ministry will utilise the RM36.3bil allocation received through Budget 2023 by prioritising the upgrading of health facilities nationwide, especially those over 50 years old.
Its minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said they have identified 1,200 health clinics categorised as dilapidated or affected by the high operational burden during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“There are many health clinics over 50 years old, including in rural and suburban areas.
“However, we will prioritise 400 clinics and use this allocation effectively,” she told reporters after the handing over of Hospital Segamat new building project here yesterday.
On Thursday, Dr Zaliha said the ministry has submitted an application for special allocations to improve and upgrade health facilities across the country with immediate effect, considering that 1,200 of its 3,119 health clinics are over 50 years old, in poor and dilapidated condition, with most of them built on wooden structures.
Regarding the allocation for new permanent and contract positions for more than 1,500 medical officers, dental officers and pharmacists under Budget 2023, Dr Zaliha said the ministry will hold discussions with the Public Services Commission (SPA) on the placement of its staff.
On Hospital Segamat’s new building project, she said the project is worth RM90.5mil with additional 67 beds for the Emergency and Trauma Department, operating rooms, Intensive Care Unit, High Dependency Unit, Central Sterile Supply Department, and the Respiratory and Haemodynamics Unit.
It is scheduled to begin operation in phases from March 5.
She also announced an allocation of RM600,000 for the construction of 422 parking lots at Hospital Segamat, which is expected to overcome the congestion issue when the new building starts operating next month.
In a separate statement, Dr Zaliha said the government had approved an allocation of RM340mil to repair 400 dilapidated clinics and hospitals nationwide, RM160mil to maintain medical equipment under the Medical Equipment Enhancement Tenure (MEET), and RM100mil to replace obsolete medical equipment.
She also described the overall allocation for the ministry under Budget 2023 as a very positive start towards increasing the health sector budget to 5% of the gross domestic product (GDP).
“The allocation is equivalent to 2% of the GDP forecast in 2023 by the Finance Ministry and is an increase from 1.89% in 2022.
“However, the ministry is confident that the 5% rate can be achieved and fulfilled by the government in stages within five years as the country’s economy is recovering and growing rapidly,” added Dr Zaliha.
During the tabling of Budget 2023 on Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the health sector received the second highest allocation with RM36.3bil compared to RM32.4bil last year. — Bernama
