KUCHING: The northern region of Sarawak, particularly Miri city, deserves a second general hospital there.
Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) president Senator Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said: We welcome the governments plan through the Ministry of Health to upgrade Miri Hospital under the 11th Malaysia Plan. This shows the federal government is caring.
However, I am of the opinion that those in Miri need more than just an upgraded hospital. They need another government hospital to be built in Miri in the near future, he said when contacted yesterday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, when tabling the 11MP at the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday, announced Miri Hospital as one of three hospitals to be upgraded.
On a related matter, Dr Sim said more must be done by the government to achieve its targetted doctor-patient ratio of 1:400 nationwide by year 2020.
He described the 11MP as the last Malaysian Plan before the country achieve developed status, and said more programmes and focus should be given to Sarawak.