JOHOR BARU: Seven development and upgrading projects totalling RM1.139bil are under way at the century-old Hospital Sultanah Aminah, says Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
Among them is a RM159mil mechanical and electrical (M&E) upgrading project, which is about 76% complete.
Others include the construction of an Ambulatory Care Centre (ACC) and a specialist clinics complex, as well as upgrades to the hospital’s lifts, medical gas system, neurosurgical suite and pathology laboratory.
“At the same time, the ministry has approved the construction of three new operating theatres costing RM20.7mil to meet surgical needs before the necessary M&E upgrading works can be carried out at the existing 12 operating theatres,” Akmal Nasrullah told reporters after visiting the hospital yesterday.
He said the initial plan was to carry out the upgrading works in stages by temporarily closing some of the operating theatres.
“However, after several trial runs, we found that this was not feasible due to technical issues.
“We cannot close only part of the operating theatres complex because there is a risk. We have to close them entirely to make way for the upgrades,” he said.
He added that once the upgrading is completed, the hospital’s total operating theatres would be increased to 15.
On the ACC and specialist clinics complex, Akmal Nasrullah said the RM877.54mil project is expected to begin after the contractor receives its letter of appointment in February 2027.
The development will bring significant improvements to the hospital’s services include 16 specialist clinics, 168 consultation rooms, 10 operating theatres and 55 dialysis machines.
“It will also include a multi-storey car park, and we will identify the best way to relocate existing services to make way for construction,” he added.
Akmal Nasrullah, who is also Johor Baru MP, said a total of 613 development projects worth RM56.12bil are currently being implemented across Johor.
Of these, 154 are new projects and 459 are continuation projects.
