Report on hospital fire to be presented to Cabinet first

The fire in October, 2016 broke out at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital. — Filepic

JOHOR BARU: The report on the cause of fire that resulted in the death of six patients at Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) here will be presented to the Cabinet first before being made public.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the seven-man inquiry committee, led by retired judge Mohd Hishamuddin Yunus, has completed their work.

“However, the report must be tabled at the Cabinet first. This will be carried out as soon as possible because the committee was appointed by the Cabinet.

“Its findings and suggestions will only be made public after we have tabled it,” he said after a working visit to HSA and Permai Hospital here.

It was reported by a news portal that the committee had handed over its report about the incident to the Health Ministry earlier this year.

The committee was appointed by then Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam and endorsed by the Cabinet in December, 2016.

The fire in October, 2016 broke out at the intensive care unit (ICU) on the second floor of the hospital.

Four female and two male patients died in the fire while another male patient was rescued by firefighters.

Dr Dzulkefly also lashed out at certain parties for saying that the Government did not do anything to help HSA repair and restore the badly damaged ICU.

He pointed out that works had been carried out, including replacing the capacitor and ballast at non-critical and critical locations at the hospital.

Dr Dzulkefly said the hospital has also applied for allocations to buy more assets to replace 121 fire extinguishers that were old.

“We have also upgraded the hose reel system at HSA’s main building following the requirement set by the Fire and Rescue Department.

“The ministry has also conducted repair works at the hospital buildings, including the royal ward and its four main blocks,” he said, adding that the brain suite, a special ward that was affected due to the incident, had also been repaired and in operation as usual.

He said the Government has approved RM30mil under the 11th Malaysian Plan (RMK11) that will be used for repair works to be carried out at HSA.