‘Tongkang Pechah needs clinic with better facilities’

Ling speaking on improvements done to health clinics to benefit a larger population.

The Batu Pahat Health Office has proposed a new clinic in Tongkang Pechah to meet growing demand.

Johor health and unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the current Tongkang Pechah health clinic recently went through repairs and upgrading of its laboratory at a cost of RM450,000.

“However, there is a need for newer healthcare facilities as the clinic sees more than 200 patients daily.

“The construction of a new Type-3 health clinic in Tongkang Pechah was proposed as a long-term plan as the area gets more developed.

“The current land size is also sufficient for such an upgrade.

“The new facilities and added services such as radiology, physiotherapy and nutrition will cater to a larger population compared to the current facilities,” Ling said at the state assembly sitting in Kota Iskandar.

Type-3 health clinics serve catchment populations of 30,000 to 50,000.

They usually have facilities such as accident and emergency department, X-ray, laboratory and pharmacy.

Among their services are maternal care, childcare, dental care and rehabilitation

Ling was responding to Datuk Mohamad Najib Samuri (BN-Parit Yaani), who asked about the state’s plans to improve the services at the health clinics in Tongkang Pechah and Parit Yaani.

Ling said RM350,000 was spent to upgrade the Parit Yaani health clinic.

“The project is in its final stage and expected to be completed soon.”

Compared to Tongkang Pechah health clinic, the Parit Yaani facility had a lower patient volume of 100 to 150 a day, he said.

He explained that the existing land area was also smaller, making it more difficult to build a new facility there.

“Throughout this year, a total of RM13.63mil has been channelled to 14 health clinics and 29 village clinics (klinik desa) to help with repairs and upgrades.

“In 2024, the state will continue assisting clinics in need, depending on the allocations given by Health Ministry,” said Ling, who is Yong Peng assemblyman.