LANGKAWI: The expansion of Sultanah Maliha Hospital (HSM) at a cost of RM515.35mil will make it a major specialist hospital.
The construction of an additional building is expected to be completed by July 2025.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the hospital would have 330 beds, up from 110 currently, and the number of staff would be increased to 1,903 from 557.
He said six operation theatres, a multi- storey car park, staff quarters comprising 40 units, medical and non-medical equipment, as well as information and communication technology would be among the facilities to be provided at the new wing.
“This project was approved under the third rolling plan of the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) with the letter of acceptance issued on Dec 16, 2021, and the site ownership effective Jan 20, 2022,” Khairy said at the project site’s groundbreaking ceremony here yesterday.
The event was officiated by Sultan of Kedah Al Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah and Sultanah Maliha Tengku Ariff.
Also present were Raja Muda of Kedah Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah Sultan Sallehuddin, Tunku Mahkota Kedah Tunku Shazuddin Ariff Sultan Sallehuddin and Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Khairy said the building construction would be done in accordance with international specifications, and that the hospital would provide health services of international standards at the famed resort island.
He hoped that the new facilities, when completed, would be able to further improve the people’s health.
“This additional building project at Sultanah Maliha Hospital is also in line with the second theme of the 12MP, ‘Strengthening Security, Wellbeing and Inclusivity’,” Khairy said.
At a post-officiating ceremony press conference, he told Bernama that the new building would also have air-conditioning in the third-class wards for the comfort of patients, their visiting family members and staff members.
He also announced that a ward for contagious diseases would be set up at the additional building as Langkawi has migrant communities who could pose a risk of diseases spreading.
Meanwhile, he said his ministry would quickly provide a sea ambulance and sign a memorandum of understanding with the Malaysia Fire and Rescue Department for a helicopter service soon towards improving health services on the island.
“Among others, I have approved the establishment of the Paediatric High-Dependency Unit at Sultanah Maliha Hospital for young patients needing intensive treatment,” he added.
Khairy also said that the Health Ministry had a long-term plan to establish a forensic department and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) facility at HSM, as well as a health clinic at Pulau Tuba near here.
“Currently, there’s only a rural clinic at Pulau Tuba. When we identify a site for it, we will include it in the rolling plan.
“I understand that a plot of land belonging to the Fire and Rescue Department could be the site for the health clinic, so we will discuss this with the Department,” the minister added.