KOTA BARU: Gua Musang residents are expected to benefit from the government’s decision to upgrade the Gua Musang Hospital (HGM) to a minor specialist hospital as the facilities will enable them to get better medical treatment.
The hospital’s board member Ng Kae Chyau, who is also DAP Gua Musang Bandar Utama chaiman, said with the upgrade, residents no longer had to travel to other districts or states to seek specialist treatment.
“Prior to this, patients were sent to hospitals either in Kuala Krai or Ipoh in Perak for specialist treatment. Not anymore. Thank you to the Federal government for listening to the voices of the people,” he said in a statement.
He said travelling to Kuala Krai Hospital or Ipoh for treatment had created many problems to local patients and their families.
“It even caused some of the patients to delay their treatment and face the risk of losing their life,” he said.
Health deputy minister Dr Lee Boon Chye was reported to have said that the ministry would upgrade 11 non-specialist hospitals nationwide to minor specialist hospitals to further extend medical specialist services to those living in rural areas.
He said among the hospitals were those in Gerik, Kuala Kangsar and Taiping in Perak; Tampin Hospital in Negeri Sembilan; and Kota Tinggi Hospital in Johor.
The upgrade would also involve Besut and Dungun hospitals in Terengganu; Gua Musang Hospital in Kelantan; Beaufort Hospital and Kota Marudu Hospital in Sabah; as well as Mukah Hospital in Sarawak.
Lee said there were 145 government hospitals so far including 75 specialist hospitals, 18 minor specialist hospitals, 14 state hospitals, 10 special institutions/hospitals and eight major specialist hospitals.