Ipoh's main hospital in dire need of expansion, says Perak exco member

State Exco A.Sivanesan (left) visiting the emergency unit at HRPB.

IPOH: Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun here needs drastic expansion and upgrades so it can handle the high volume of patients, says Perak health executive council member A. Sivanesan.

He said the state Health Department had already sent proposals and applications to the Health Ministry to upgrade the hospital's facilities, especially its emergency and trauma unit.

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"Former state health director Datuk Dr Ding Lay Ming told me former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin saw the need to upgrade the emergency and trauma unit during his visit in April.

"He promised to help and managed to put in the papers for the budget," Sivanesan told a press conference after visiting the hospital here on Tuesday (Dec 13).

"Action has been taken since April this year," he said, adding that about RM6.5mil is needed for upgrades and expansion work.

"If we can get this allocation, a big portion of the issues can be resolved," he added.

Sivanesan was responding to an online report about the purported shortcomings at the hospital.

Among the issues the hospital faces include insufficient doctors, facilities and beds.

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Sivanesan also said despite the shortcomings, no patient had been denied treatment.

"The usual complaints I get are patient congestion, lack of parking spaces and long waiting times to see doctors.

"But there are no issues with the services, treatment and medication," he said.

"The staff at the hospital are trying their level best to cut down on waiting time," he added.