‘Hospital already delayed two years’

Dr Dzulkefly: RM848mil women and children’s health centre ready in 12 more weeks

KUALA LUMPUR: The completion of the Women and Children Hospital (WCH) has been delayed by two years and the contractor promises to do so in 12 weeks, says Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

The Health Minister said the hospital, built in the Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) grounds, would eventually be fully operational before the end of the year.

“After 12 weeks or three months, we will conduct a joint inspection,” he said after paying a surprise visit to HKL and WCH yesterday.

He also made a visit to the health clinic in Jalan Fletcher earlier.

The WCH’s completion date was Oct 21, 2016.

Dr Dzulkefly also said that the bone marrow transplant unit of the WCH did not meet specifications.

But other technical issues, such as problems with manholes and sinks, are nearly resolved.

He said the project was based on a public-private partnership.

“And it is the onus of the contractors to meet the specifications.

“If the experts still find the issues unsatisfactory, the contractor has to continue to do it up,” he said.

The construction cost of the building is RM848mil.

Asked whether the WCH would be able to meet the daily demands as it had fewer beds in the new building (and the old maternity ward would have to be given up), Dr Dzulkefly said there were 600 beds in the WCH and another 400 would be added once the Paediatric Unit was refurbished.

“That will meet the demand, although more needs to be done,” he said.

Asked if the hospital would have enough specialists, Dr Dzulkefly said doctors would be redeployed but that there is a moratorium on new posts.

“We want to see how housemen, who become medical officers on contract for two years, can be re-absorbed.

“We are considering asking the Public Services Department to give extra posts to the ministry,” he said.

Dr Dzulkefly also confirmed that Dr Lee Boon Chye had agreed to take up the post of Deputy Health Minister.

He said he looked forward to working with the Gopeng MP, who is a cardiologist at a private hospital in Ipoh.

Pill refill: Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad checking medicine at a HKL pharmacy. Looking on is Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (wearing neck-tie).