Private hospital to take specialist services to Sabah's interior

 By Olivia Miwil - December 14, 2021 @ 5:13pm

Rafflesia Medical Centre Simon Chew (centre) informing the hospital patron Toh Puan Norlidah R.M Jasni opening of its two new branches in Keningau and Lahad Datu during a courtesy visit at Istana Seri Kinabalu. - Pic courtesy of Sabah Information Department.

KOTA KINABALU: More districts in Sabah will have access to medical specialists services, made possible with a private hospital Rafflesia Medical Centre (RMC) here opening more branches in Keningau and Lahad Datu.

Its managing director Simon Chew said hospitals in both locations costing RM60 million would among others offer expertise in obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatric, heart, eyes, radiology and surgical procedures.

"As most private hospitals are concentrated in Kota Kinabalu, RMC plans to extend its facilities to the interior of Sabah.

"In two years we will have RMC2 in Keningau to cater for patients in Tenom, Nabawan and Tambunan.

"We have proposed its location to be near to Keningau district hospital, about 5 kilometres apart, with an estimated cost of RM20 million," he said after a courtesy visit to the wife of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Toh Puan Norlidah R.M Jasni at Istana Seri Kinabalu.

Chew said the visit was meant to inform Norlidah that she had been appointed as the patron of the hospital.

As for the branch in Lahad Datu, Chew said the RM40 million 50-bed hospital building is funded by a company in Kuala Lumpur.

At present patients from Lahad Datu had to travel about three hours to get treatment at the Tawau district hospital.