Selangor Ruler calls for shorter waiting time at hospitals

Hello, little one: The Selangor Sultan and Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin visiting a newborn baby after the launch of the Tanjong Karang Hospital. With them is Amirudin (second from left). — Bernama

TANJONG KARANG: Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah wants the waiting time at hospital emergency units to be cut short.

“I have been informed that people have to wait very long at the hospitals’ emergency departments before being admitted to wards.

“The waiting time for surgeries as well as follow-ups also take months,” said Sultan Sharafuddin in his royal address at the launch of the Tanjong Karang Hospital here yesterday.

The hospital started operations in Oct 10 last year.

The Ruler also asked for the facilities in hospital and health clinics to be prioritised and the number of doctors and nurses increased.

“Hoping the Health Minister will take action on this matter,’’ said Sultan Sharafuddin.

The Ruler also wanted healthcare services rendered in hospitals to have good management systems administered efficiently so that the healthcare capacity in Selangor can be increased.

Sultan Sharafuddin added that this included maintaining the hospital equipment and infrastructure well to ensure they were in good condition and able to provide high quality service.

“Therefore, I urge the Health Ministry to look at the overall needs of the health facilities in Selangor.

Earlier in his royal address, Sultan Sharafuddin said he was happy and thankful that the Tanjong Karang Hospital had been completed.

“With this hospital, the people in the vicinity can receive access to better and more effective healthcare.

“The new hospital provides specialist medical services and this will help patients receive specialist treatment here as opposed to, like in the past, having to depend on the Sungai Buloh Hospital,’’ said Sultan Sharafuddin.

He added that the opening of the maiden surgical theatre in the hospital would be able to expedite waiting time for patients in need of urgent surgery.

“My hope is that with the completion of this hospital, the people’s burden will be eased, especially in the Kuala Selangor district,’’ he said.

The Sultan said Selangor now has more than seven million residents and given this, there is a need for additional medical facilities with up-to-date equipment in many areas in the state.

Also at the event were Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.

The construction of the RM269mil Tanjong Karang Hospital was approved in 2013 under the 10th Malaysia Plan to replace the 57-year-old Tanjong Karang District Hospital.