New KL hospital to provide 600 beds

Be strong: Dr Subramaniam comforting Mahana Matisa, whose son M. Safri Danial is suffering from cancer, during a visit to Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

KUALA LUMPUR: The new women and children’s hospital, when ready in two years, will provide an additional 600 beds and help ease congestion at the old paediatrics institute at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, the oldest in the country.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the RM848mil complex, currently at a 13.8% completion rate, was on track to meet its deadline by the end of 2016.

“We will move part of the services from the old institute to the new building and this will provide a more comfortable place for children’s treatment,” he said after a visit to the hospital yesterday.

Traffic flow is also expected to ease with the near-completion of a multi-tier carpark within the hospital compound.

“The carpark will give us an addition of about 2,000 bays. With new developments coming up, including new roads around the compound, the hospital should have better traffic flow,” he said.

At present, there are 745 parking bays at the hospital. Another 1,270 bays are slated to be added when the women and children’s hospital is completed.

The ministry, he said, was also planning to gradually increase the “school within a hospital” facility in the next two to three years for children who are hospital-bound.

“Children who are seeking long-term treatment for chronic illnesses would be able to resume their education without any hiccups with the help of teachers who are seconded by the Education Ministry to work in the hospital.

“Currently, there are 13 such facilities nationwide,” he said.

Earlier, Dr Subramaniam launched a programme called “Dream Comes True” organised by Putera MIC for the children at the cancer ward of the paediatrics institute.

A group of costumed superheroes such as Spider-Man, Batman and other characters, together with Subramaniam, visited the children to spread Hari Raya cheer.