Ensure all health facilities safe, rep tells state government

MIRI: Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon wants the state government to take immediate steps to ensure fires do not occur in health facilities in the state.

He said the state government should review safety measures in all hospitals and other health facilities in Sarawak, and prompt action must be taken to address any deficiency.

Commenting on the tragedy at Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor which resulted in six fatalities and many others injured, he said it was a bitter pill to swallow as patients were in hospitals to get treatment and to recover from their sicknesses, not to die or be injured.

Dr Ting recalled that in the last State Legislative Assembly sitting, he called on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem to form a team of experts and personnel, including medical specialists, to review health services in Sarawak.

“However, the call has fallen on deaf ears as both Adenan and ( Datuk) Dr Sim Kui Hien ( Minister of Local Government) did not respond in their respective speeches,” he said.

Besides saying hospitals in Sarawak were overcrowded, he wanted major hospitals in the state to engage competent and qualified safety and health officers to manage hospital safety.

“We can’t afford to wait for another incident,” he stressed.