FOR decades, Klinik Kesihatan Menglembu in Ipoh, Perak, has been a vital health clinic for the local community.
But the facility is now struggling to meet the needs of a growing population, making expansion an urgent priority.
Perak government, Health Ministry and Ipoh City Council (MBI) must act to secure adjacent vacant land for a larger clinic and proper parking.
Serving more than 30 housing estates and villages, including Kampung Baru Menglembu, Taman Menglembu Timur and Barat, Taman Kledang and Taman Rasi, the clinic sees up to 400 patients daily.
The limited space has even forced the outpatient department to set up temporary canopy tents and plastic chairs outdoors to accommodate patients.
Elderly people, expectant mothers and parents with infants are left waiting in the heat or rain.
For elderly patients, enduring long waits under open tents is a matter of comfort and dignity.
The shortage of parking has also pushed patients and visitors to park along narrow road shoulders, with vehicles lining Jalan Menglembu Timur 16 and creating bottlenecks outside the clinic.
The congestion is compounded by shared access roads with a neighbouring secondary school.
During school pickup hours, traffic gridlock puts students at risk and could delay emergency access to the clinic.
A potential solution lies in vacant government plots and open land adjoining the clinic.
These parcels should be prioritised for public healthcare rather than commercial or private development.
MBI must also assess proposals for nearby developments to ensure they do not obstruct future expansion or worsen congestion.
Securing the land now would allow health authorities to plan enclosed waiting areas, proper diagnostic rooms, dedicated parking and safer access roads.
Menglembu residents deserve accessible, safe and dignified healthcare facilities comparable to those in other growing areas such as Manjoi and Buntong.
This is about more than easing today’s overcrowding.
It is about ensuring future generations have access to adequate healthcare.
Authorities must act before the remaining land is lost to other uses.
K. Kunasekaran
Ipoh
