Public healthcare network making good progress

The Star

02-06-2025

THREE key expansion projects of Penang Hospital with a combined value of RM758mil, are currently progressing at various stages.
Penang health committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said the first project, the Women and Children's Block, had reach 34.35% completion as of May 22.
'The first project worth RM307mil is scheduled for completion in January 2026,' he said in a press conference after a site visit at Jalan Residensi.
Gooi said the project was being implemented under a design-and-build tender system and included the construction of a 12-storey parking complex and an 8-storey hospital building with a 329-bed capacity alongside various specialised healthcare services.
The parking complex, he added, would be able to accommodate 449 cars at one time.
Gooi said the second project, the new Stem Cell Services Centre Block, valued at RM23mil, was expected to be completed by March 2027.
'Additional infrastructure includes 25 parking bays, a covered connecting bridge, support buildings (including a waste house and M&E room) and utility upgrades.
'This project is 10.19% completed as of May 29, with completion scheduled for March 2027,' he said
The Women and Children Block is 34.35% completed as of May 22. It is expected to be ready by January next year. — Photos: LIM BENG TATT/The Star
The project, he elaborated, was being carried out using the conventional method under the supervision of the Public Works Department (JKR).
He said the facility would enhance transplant-related services, including apheresis units, stem cell laboratories and other support facilities.
'The third project, the Specialist Clinic and Ward Block, with a budget of RM428mil, is projected to be completed by May 2029.
'The project is being developed through a conventional approach under JKR, where the 14-storey block will house specialist outpatient clinics and wards with a capacity of 216 beds,' he said.
He added that the project currently stood at 3.33% progress as of May 20, with completion targeted for May 2029.
Gooi said these expansion projects, when ready, would mark a significant enhancement to the state's healthcare system and facilities.
The projects represented strategic investments by the Federal Government to upgrade public healthcare infrastructure in the state under the 10th and 11th Malaysia plans, he said.
'We are grateful to the Federal Government for approving these allocations. This marks a significant milestone in enhancing healthcare services for the people of Penang.'
Gooi said the developments would not only strengthen Penang's healthcare system but also significantly improve the quality of medical services for its residents.
He said the state government, through his office, remained committed to enhancing the public healthcare network, closing the gap in treatment accessibility and ensuring quality, equitable and comprehensive services for all.
Gooi added that these initiatives aligned with the Penang2030 vision and the Malaysia Madani framework, which prioritised values of well-being, justice and compassion in the delivery of public services.
Penang Hospital is one of the oldest public hospitals in Malaysia, with a history dating back to the colonial era.
Located in George Town, it is the largest government hospital in the northern region and is a tertiary referral centre for Penang, Kedah, Perlis and northern Perak.
It was established in the 19th century during British rule to serve the growing population in Penang, which was then an important trading hub.
Post-independence, the hospital underwent several modernisation projects, with the addition of new medical departments, specialist units, and upgraded facilities.
Over the decades, it expanded to provide specialist medical care, catering to the increasing healthcare demands.
The hospital also played a crucial role in handling major health crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic where it served as a key treatment centre.