New multi-storey hospital block to be ready in two years

Penang State Federal Action Council chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman (right) during visiting the upgrading of hospital Seberang Jaya in Seberang Jaya yesterday. — Photos: MUSTAFA AHMAD/The Star

THE Seberang Jaya Hospital’s upgrading project which involves building a multi-storey block is scheduled to be completed by Nov 15, 2019, said Penang Federal Action Council chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman.

He said the hospital’s bed capacity would double when the RM490mil project is completed.

He said the hospital would be able to accommodate 630 beds when the new block is ready compared to 314 beds currently.

He added that this would reduce the current congestion.

Zainal (second right) looking at the upgrading plan for the Seberang Jaya Hospital during a site visit.

On the project cost, he said RM368mil was for the building while about RM120mil was for equipment.

Zainal said the new block would also provide a new clinical service, namely rehabilitation medicine.

“It will also provide cardiology and paediatric cardiothoracic services, and be the referral centre for the northern zone in the two disciplines,” he told a press conference after he was briefed on the construction’s progress during a visit to the site recently.

He said the construction was supposed to be at the 14.31% completion stage but was only 11.14%.

He added that the project was currently the biggest federal project in Penang.