SANDAKAN – Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal has expressed concern about the dire state of Sabah’s healthcare sector, saying that Sabahans cannot afford private healthcare and are unable to seek treatment in Kuala Lumpur.
Expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for allocating RM80 million to establish a branch of the National Heart Centre, he said, however, that the allocation falls short of what is required.
“I appreciate that (Anwar’s announcement), but we need more than that. Sabah has about 4 million people, and Kota Kinabalu alone has between 1 million and 2 million people.
“What we need is (more allocation for) a new hospital. In Johor, they (the federal government) can spend RM500 million, isn’t it?” he said, referring to Anwar’s announcement last September that RM500 million would be allocated to upgrade the Sultanah Aminah Hospital.
Shafie said this when met by reporters after a walkabout at Donggongon township in Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, today.
During yesterday’s national Madani Aidilfitri open house in Kota Kinabalu, Anwar announced the approval of a cardiology centre at the state’s main hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital II.
Shafie said that he has repeatedly raised in Parliament the need for Sabah to have a new hospital with more comprehensive and modern facilities, as well as more specialists.
“If there is any kind of casualty of illness, they (patients) have to be brought to Kota Kinabalu by road or plane, but in some incidents, people have died along the way…because there are not enough facilities.
“The Queen Elizabeth I Hospital, which has about 700 beds, does not even have a kitchen. The Queen Elizabeth II Hospital is responsible for providing food to patients in need.
“The facilities are not enough. Patients are lying on the floor (due to insufficient beds),” he claimed.
Shafie said there is a need for the Health Ministry to focus on and delve into the specific types of illnesses and treatments required in Sabah in order to equip the state with pertinent medical facilities, specialists, and resources.
“Right now we don’t have enough doctors to cater for that (the illnesses), so where do we go? We can’t afford to go to Kuala Lumpur, the people are poor,” he added. – April 21, 2024