RMC planning to build new centre in Sibu with more enhanced facilities
SIBU: Rejang Medical Centre (RMC) is planning to build a new centre with more enhanced facilities to meet the needs of the people in Sibu and surrounding Rajang Basin areas.
According to RMC chief executive officer Dr John Tang, the new centre planned on a piece of land along Jalan Dr Wong Soon Kai here, costing RM150 million would accommodate 200 beds.
“It is time for RMC to come up with a bigger and better built medical centre after 20 years of its establishment here.
“This is to cope with medical advancement and increased public expectation over the years,” he said during a briefing about the project to Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Dr Annuar Rapaee at RMC yesterday.
The project chairman Dr Peter Tang, when conducting the briefing, said the new centre would provide, among other things, cardiology services with angiogram suite, neurology and neurosurgery services and oncology services with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
It would also provide more specialised medical, gynaecology and surgical services, he added.
“All these are in addition to our current medical services at the existing centre.
“There will be an enlarged supporting services including a new daycare centre for oncology patients, a new rehabilitation centre with physiotherapists, occupational and speech therapists as well as enlarged haemodialysis centre with 50 to 60 machines.
“We wish to build a new medical centre that will meet the demand of Sibu people and a centre that they, as well as ourselves, will be proud of one day,” he said.
However, the implementation of the project is still awaiting approval from Sarawak Planning Authority (SPA).
Dr Annuar said he and Senator Robert Lau would assist RMC on this matter.
He said private hospitals played a very important role in healthcare services, especially during Covid-19 pandemic.
“In the last one year, when we dealt with a high number of Covid-19 cases, the government hospital was struggling to get fast PCR test results.
“Luckily, private hospitals stepped in and assisted us. Imagine if we don’t have private hospitals at that time... that is for testing only. For other services, we have to send patients here, we have to borrow medical equipment... all these show how important private hospitals are,” he said.
He added that if materialised, the haemodialysis centre with 50 to 60 machines at the new RMC would be the biggest in the state.
Lau, who also spoke, said the project was just timely with the planned relocation of Indonesian capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan.
He said the relocation would create an opportunity for the healthcare services in Sibu, being the nearest town to Kapit with roads being built to Baleh, which is in close proximity to the Indonesia-Malaysia border and the new capital.