By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: The Health Ministry has created 607 new positions in Sabah as of Aug 1 this year to ensure state healthcare facilities operate at optimal capacity.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the new posts comprise 355 managerial and professional positions, including 77 specialist roles and 203 medical, dental, and pharmacy officers, as well as 252 implementation group positions.
He said this during a press conference after chairing the Sabah Health Development Joint Action Committee meeting here today, which was also attended by Sabah Women, Community Development and People's Wellbeing Minister Datuk Julita Mojungki.
Dzulkefly also announced that the federal government approved RM1.57 billion under the 13th Malaysia Plan Rolling Plan 1, covering 46 ongoing projects and seven new initiatives.
The new projects include the RM125 million Sabah Heart Centre and the RM81.95 million Type 5 Health Clinic with quarters in Sapulut, Nabawan.
He added that the ministry set a projected five per cent annual allocation growth target for the Sabah Health Department, which is expected to reach RM4 billion by 2030.
"In addition to long-term mega projects under MA63, the government remains committed to addressing the concerns of people at the grassroots level.
"Yesterday, I visited three district hospitals to assess urgent facility needs personally and approved almost RM4.3 million in immediate allocations overall," he said.
The ministry approved RM988,000 for Tambunan Hospital to upgrade its Emergency Department, repair a damaged canteen, and procure medical equipment.
A new hospital will also be built in Tambunan to replace the stalled Outpatient Department project, pending a preliminary works report from the Public Works Department.
In Ranau, RM1.279 million was approved, with RM950,000 allocated to rebuild the triage counter, repair the canteen, upgrade electrical transformer capacity for air conditioning, and procure three mortuary refrigerators.
Another RM329,000 will cover essential medical equipment and four new ambulances.
Dzulkefly noted that he and the ministry's secretary-general rejected the proposed site for a new Ranau Hospital, ordering an immediate feasibility study to refurbish the facility at its existing location instead.
For Kota Belud Hospital, RM2.01 million was approved to address its congested outpatient department, upgrade dental unit equipment, and procure a new mobile X-ray machine.
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