KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur Hospital Urology and Nephrology Centre, which will begin its operation in stages by the end of October, will allow for rapid intensive care services as well as reduce waiting time.
The seven-floor centre features new facilities such as the operating theatre (OT), urology and nephrology intensive care unit (ICU) and hemodialysis unit.
Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the opening of the urology OT in this facility would help transplant surgeries (deceased and living transplants), robotics, endourology, open cases, laparoscopic and vascular, as well as elective and emergency surgeries.
"The treatment capacity now may accommodate up to three times as many patients receiving hemodialysis and two times as many patients in the intensive care unit.
"The centre also consists of 253 beds, including a high dependency ward, a urology and nephrology ward and a general ward.
"This increase includes 34 slots for the acute hemodialysis unit, 14 beds in the ICU and an additional 6 beds in the High Dependency Unit (HDU)," she said, adding that the additional 30 beds in nephrology wards are necessary to accommodate the development of transplant treatment.
She said in a press conference after the handover ceremony for the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) Nephrology and Urology Institute project here today, which was also attended by Work Minister, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
"Also available in this facility are five modular OT machines and support rooms.
"Modular OT built using prefabricated metal wall and ceiling panels would save time when renovations and maintenance need to be carried out in the operating theatre," she said.
Dr Zaliha noted that the progress of these two departments in carrying out kidney transplants has increased from 30 cases to 92 cases a year in 2022, resulting in a steady rise in demand for treatment, leading to a bed utilisation rate surpassing 100 per cent.
The Public Works Department (PWD) and contractor Johawaki Construction Sdn Bhd executed this project with a total expenditure of RM171 million.
Remarkably, the project was completed ahead of schedule, resulting in cost savings of RM9 million.