IPOH: The Health Ministry will open the country's first high-rise health clinic in Manjoi here.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the five-storey clinic, which costs RM26 million, could accommodate between 500 and 800 visitors or patients daily.
Dr Dzulkefly said the ministry has paid close attention to the project as it has been long delayed due to the previous contractor's failure.
"Today, I went to the construction site of the Manjoi Health Clinic, a project which has been abandoned for so long. We terminated the first contractor. Given its limited space, the clinic will be the first Health Ministry asset featuring a high-rise building.
"This project experienced a delay of 53 days and it was supposed to be completed by Sept 23 this year.
"Following this, the ministry will closely monitor the project and immediately resolve any issue that arises to ensure its smooth implementation," he said, adding that the project was expected to be completed by the third quarter of next year.
Dr Dzulkefly said this at a press conference after visiting the Chemor Health Clinic here today.
Earlier, Dr Dzulkefly visited Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital's Emergency Department.
He said under Rolling Plan 4 of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), the government had approved allocations to initiate preliminary work for the upgrading work of the hospital's Emergency Department.
He added that the government had also approved an allocation of RM100,000 for the purchase of equipment and medicine for the department.
At the Chemor Health Clinic here, Dr Dzulkefly said the state Health Department had submitted an application for the construction of a new health clinic to replace the existing clinic.
"This clinic used to receive 100 visitors or patients per day. But now, it is receiving almost 800 patients or visitors daily.
"And, of course, we need a new plan. The application has been submitted under Rolling Plan 4 of 12MP for 2025 to replace this clinic. However, developing the new clinic will take some time."
Dr Dzulkefly said the ministry had also approved a special allocation of RM100,000 to upgrade the staff and public toilets and RM150,000 for the purchase of medical equipment for the clinic.
He said the state had received RM212.42 million under the ministry's development expenditure for this year.
"This allocation is for the development of health facilities and infrastructure involving 17 new projects and 13 extension projects.
"The ministry is always committed to taking advantage of this provision to ensure that the planned development can be carried out according to schedule and further improve the quality of health services in Perak," said Dr Dzulkefly.