HRPB's new complex to be fully operational by year-end

LUMUT, April 10 (Bernama) -- The Women, Children and Cardiology Complex at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) in Ipoh was expected to be fully operational by the end of this year, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

He said the complex was supposed to be fully operational last month, however, there was a delay as the Works Ministry had to carry out testing and commissioning works to rectify the problems arising for security purposes.

“So there was a delay as the Works Ministry needed to do certain things to ensure the building is not just ready, but safe as well,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after launching the state-level World Health Day 2019 and officiated the Computed Tomography (CT) Scan Complex at the Seri Manjung Hospital, here today.

Dr Dzulkefly said the construction of the complex was about one to two per cent towards completion, while the medical equipment was ready to be utilised.

In September last year, Works Minister Baru Bian announced the construction of the complex was expected to be completed by the end of December last year after being given three-time extensions.

Once fully operational, the 10-storey complex will have 404 beds as well as 18 maternity rooms, six operating theatres and other facilities including more than 450 parking bays for cars and motorcycles.

In another development, Dr Dzulkefly said he was committed to ensure the construction of two new hospitals in Perak, namely the Seri Iskandar Hospital in Parit and the Parit Buntar Hospital, went smoothly.

He said the Public Works Department was expected to issue a letter of acceptance of the Seri Iskandar Hospital to the contractor on April 25, 2020 before the construction to commence, while the Parit Buntar Hospital that currently under construction was expected to be completed on Dec 28 next year.

“The Seri Iskandar Hospital project has been approved but we have yet to know the cost to build the hospital,” he said, adding that six health clinics and a dental clinic were also being developed in Perak.

On the CT Scan Complex, Dr Dzulkefly said the RM3.65 million complex was completed on Dec 6 last year and started operations four days later and as of March 14, it had carried out 685 tests. 

-- BERNAMA