PUTRAJAYA: Forty eight aging hospital buildings nationwide will go through extensive auditing in the near future to ensure that they comply with safety requirements.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said hospital blocks that are more than 50 years old will be audited in terms of safety and maintenance.
“Most of the old hospitals were built during British rule and might not meet current safety standards. These buildings are still strong, but we want to check the safety in other aspects.
“The new buildings are required to comply with the Uniform Building by-law, which was only introduced in 1984. And then there was the Fire Service Act 1988 which they need to adhere to.
“(But) the old hospitals were built way before that. For instance, Batu Gajah Hospital in Perak is 136 years old, Balik Pulau Hospital in Penang is 130 years old and Hospital Tuanku Fauziah in Perlis is 97 years old.
“Thus, we need collaboration between the Works Department and Fire and Rescue Department, as well as other relevant agencies to conduct inspection on these buildings so that the safety of the hospitals can be established,” he told reporters at a press conference here today.
Subramaniam said this in the wake of the fire incident in the intensive care unit of Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) in Johor, which claimed six lives on Tuesday.
He added that the cabinet has also agreed that the Works Department, Fire and Rescue Department and other relevant agencies will provide the necessary technical expertise and advice in reviewing safety guidelines required to prevent similar accidents from recurring.
Subramaniam said in extreme cases, old hospital buildings might be torn down.
“If the hospital building is in a dilapidated state, then it has to be demolished.” he said.
On the cause of the fire at HSA, Subramaniam said the ministry expects to receive the report from the Fire and Rescue Department in one or two weeks.
“We have yet to determine the cause of the fire. Once we have the report, we will bring the matter to the cabinet,” he said.