BUTTERWORTH: The government has successfully saved over RM900mil in the past two years by applying the Generic Medicine Policy in the healthcare sector.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad said the policy promotes the use of generic medicines in both public and private healthcare to ensure the public has access to affordable, high- quality medicines without compromising safety or effectiveness.
“The prime minister has frequently emphasised the importance of savings, and he has mentioned this since I resumed my position in this second term,” he said after the official opening of a new block at Seberang Jaya Hospital in Perai here yesterday.
The Federal Government, through the Health Ministry and the Works Ministry, gave assurances that it would accelerate the implementation of health clinics nationwide, including in Penang, he said.
Dr Dzulkefly said the rollout was part of a strategic shift towards a community-based healthcare model aimed at strengthening primary care and improving public health outcomes.
He said projects being implemented included the Bandar Tasek Mutiara Health Clinic.
“The Type 3 clinic is expected to be completed by the end of this year,” he said.
He said construction of the Mak Mandin Health Clinic (Type 3), which began in 2025, was scheduled for completion in Sept 2028.
The construction of the Bayan Lepas Health Clinic (Type 2) was being fast-tracked to allow the tender process to commence as soon as possible.
Dr Dzulkefly said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had approved the construction of the Kubang Semang Health Clinic (Type 2) and the Central Seberang Perai Integrated Health Complex under Budget 2026, involving a total allocation of RM94.6mil.
He said commitments to upgrade and strengthen healthcare services in Penang did not stop there.
To balance hospital needs between Seberang Perai and the island, Dr Dzulkefly said the Prime Minister had approved an allocation under Rolling Plan 1 of the 13th Malaysia Plan to carry out a preliminary study for the construction of an additional building at Kepala Batas Hospital.
He said the Health Ministry was in discussions with the state government to secure an adjacent site for the redevelopment of Sungai Bakap Hospital.
“Plans to redevelop Bukit Mertajam Hospital are currently under consideration,” he said.
Dr Dzulkefly also thanked the Federal Government for expediting and implementing the projects, saying they were important for public well-being.
He said this in his speech at the official ceremony for the new Seberang Jaya Hospital building.
The new building was officiated by Anwar, who was on an official visit to Permatang Pauh.
Construction of the new multi- storey block at Seberang Jaya Hospital began on May 16, 2016 and was completed on April 12, 2025, before phased operations began on May 5, 2025.
The nine-storey block houses 316 beds, six operating theatres and seven types of multidisciplinary wards, including an intensive care unit and a high dependency unit.
With its completion, Seberang Jaya Hospital’s total capacity increased to 729 beds and 11 operating theatres, strengthening its role as a major referral hospital in the northern region.
Present at the ceremony were Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim.
