KOTA KINABALU: Among the 12 Health Ministry hospital development projects nationwide that are delayed, three are in Sabah.
Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said these three “sick” projects in Sabah were Papar Hospital, Beaufort Hospital and the Sikuati health clinic in Kudat.
Based on the latest update, she said the construction of Papar Hospital was delayed by about three months while Beaufort Hospital was delayed by 18 months and the Sikuati health clinic by almost nine months.
She said the three projects were among the 12 “sick” projects under the ministry across the country.
As for the Papar Hospital extension, Dr Zaliha said the RM98.5mil project that began in 2017 was only 62% completed.
“It is a bit behind time. It should be about 70% completed by now,” she told reporters yesterday after she visited the project site in Papar about 40km from here.
She said that one of the reasons for the delay was the Covid-19 pandemic, as the project could not be carried out for about three years.
“But there are also other factors and these include contractors having problems getting workers as well as building materials.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and hold discussions with the Public Works Department, contractors and other stakeholders to ensure the project moves forward,” she added.
Dr Zaliha said she was hopeful that various problems related to mechanical and electrical issues would be resolved by next month and the project completed by the end of the year.
She said she hopes the extension of the Papar Hospital would be operational by March next year.
“The new Papar Hospital building will be able to benefit more than 100,000 residents around the area,” she added.
The upgrading of Papar Hospital involved the construction of a ward to provide an additional 84 beds, as well as a paediatric ward, a women’s ward, and a male ward.
In addition, the hospital would be better equipped with emergency and trauma services, imaging, satellite pharmacy and other facilities.
