MIRI: The state government has urged its federal counterpart to prioritise upgrading works at the hospital here as the allocation has been approved.
“The allocation amounting to RM350 million has been approved and I hope the upgrading works can start as soon as possible,” said Tourism, Arts and Culture Assistant Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin.
He described the upgrading works as urgent considering its location in the northern region of the state.
“The hospital not only caters to local patients, but also those residing in Baram, Limbang, Lawas, Marudi and that’s why it is vital for the hospital to have better facilities and equipment,” said Lee during the handing over of a Tuberculosis testing machine (Genexpert TB test) at the hospital here.
He also hoped that the upgrading works would commence as soon as possible.
Also present were Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting, Miri Chinese Community Leaders Association chairman Temenggong Datuk Seri Lee Sie Tong, Miri Hospital director Dr Jack Wong and members of Miri Chinese charitable trust board.
The testing machine costing RM100,000 was donated by the Miri Chinese charitable trust board.
Lee credited the trust board for its good deed in donating the testing machine to improve the hospital’s medical services especially in detecting TB.
“Before this, the Miri hospital conducted diagnoses in a conventional way which takes up two to three months to detect the bacteria and obtain the results,” he said.
Prior to this, only Kuching and Sibu had the TB test machines.
