Socso's high-tech rehab centre in Ipoh on track for completion by 2024

IPOH: The Social Security Organisation's (Socso) largest ever Neuro-Robotics Rehabilitation and Cybernics Centre at Bandar Meru Raya here is progressing well and on schedule.

Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar (pic) said the project was now in its second phase, with the construction of the superstructure, which was at about 12% completion.

He said the RM654mil centre will be completed and expected to start operations by the end of next year.

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"Work started in June last year and is progressing well.

"Once completed, it will be a centre of excellence for rehabilitation, and could accommodate 700 patients at one time," he told a press conference after visiting the construction site here on Sunday (Feb 19).

Sivakumar said since the Tun Abdul Razak Rehabilitation Centre in Bandar Hijau, Melaka started operations in 2014, some 16,643 patients have received physical rehabilitation and vocational training up to January this year.

He said between 30% and 35% of the patients are from states in the northern region.

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"With the centre in Ipoh, these cases can be referred here," he said, adding that its services would also be opened to those from overseas.

When asked if there were plans to build similar rehabilitation centres in Sabah and Sarawak, Sivakumar said they were still being discussed.

"Such projects require high cost, and need more strategic planning.

"It is my hope that each state has one if possible," he said, adding that about 400 doctors and staff would be hired for the rehabilitation centre here.

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Cybernics treatment is an assistive technology that builds on several fields including cybernetics and informatics.

It includes the use of hybrid assistive limb (HAL) technology to rehabilitate or regenerate movement functions of the wearer and can help in stroke, spinal cord injury and neuromuscular disease cases.