ISKANDAR PUTERI: The 304-bed Hospital Pasir Gudang (HPG) is expected to operate at full capacity by September, says Johor health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon.
He said only 157 of the hospital’s 304 beds are currently in use and only nine of its 14 wards operating because of manpower constraints.
"The hospital is currently operating with only 41% of its total staffing capacity, with 929 positions filled out of 2,271 approved posts.
"This means there is still a shortfall of about 59%. We are in discussions with the Health Ministry to send more medical assistants, medical officers and nurses to help with operations," he told reporters during recess of the state assembly meeting in Kota Iskandar here on Tuesday (May 5).
Ling said all 14 clinical services at the hospital are already available, including its emergency department, surgery, paediatric and orthopaedic units.
"HPG is already open to the public and patients can seek treatment there, and it has also helped ease the patient load at Hospital Sultan Ismail as some cases are being diverted there," he added.
When opening the state assembly sitting on April 30, Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim said staffing and equipment shortages at HPG must be resolved immediately to ensure the facility becomes fully operational without further delay.
He said while a large portion of services at the hospital have already commenced, unresolved manpower and equipment issues should not hold back its full operations.
