Latest news with #DuchessofKentHospital
Daily Express
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Express
MP pushes for new hospital in Libaran
Published on: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 15, 2025 By: Winnie Kasmir Text Size: He says HDOK is now operating beyond its original capacity and unable to cope with the growing number of patients. SANDAKAN: Libaran MP Datuk Suhaimi Nasir has urged the government to seriously consider and expedite the proposal for a new hospital in the Libaran constituency, citing critical strain on public healthcare facilities at the Duchess of Kent Hospital (HDOK) in here. He said HDOK is now operating beyond its original capacity and is unable to cope with the growing number of patients, not only from Sandakan but also from Libaran, Beluran, Telupid and Kinabatangan. Advertisement 'The wards are often full, the shortage of beds has become a daily issue, and patients are left waiting or placed along hospital corridors,' he said in a statement on Saturday. Suhaimi also highlighted the worsening parking situation at the hospital. 'The lack of adequate parking spaces continues to complicate matters for patients, their families and hospital staff. 'I have repeatedly raised this issue in Parliament and the Sabah State Assembly over several terms, yet the proposal for a new hospital in Libaran has not been included in any of the 10th, 11th or 12th Malaysia Plans. 'This is deeply disappointing, especially when the population of Sandakan has now exceeded 500,000,' he said. Suhaimi believes that establishing a new hospital in Libaran would not only ease congestion at HDOK but also improve access to healthcare for rural residents, particularly those living far from the city centre. He further called on the Ministry of Health to speed up the deployment of specialists and medical equipment at HDOK, especially in critical areas such as cardiology, anaesthesiology, emergency care and paediatrics services which remain insufficient at the current facility. 'The people of Libaran and the entire east coast of Sabah deserve a fair and efficient healthcare system. This is not a political issue. It is a matter of public welfare and saving lives,' he said. Suhaimi, who is also the Umno Sabah Information Chief, reiterated his commitment to pushing this agenda forward until it is no longer delayed, ensuring that the people of Sabah receive healthcare services on par with other states in Malaysia. 'This is about the well-being and health of the people. Libaran and the east coast of Sabah are entitled to the same healthcare standards as any other region in the country,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
17-06-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Petronas supports health care and awareness initiatives in Sabah
Dr Maria (centre) touching a 'heart' replica to mark the launch of the event. Also in the picture are Tanjung Papat assembly member, Datuk Frankie Poon Ming Fung (third from right), Khairuddin M Jaafar (second from right), Walter Kinson (third from left). SANDAKAN (June 17): Petronas recently contributed to the Bulan Pemakanan Malaysia 2025 and Jom Sihat Sandakan event, organised to promote health awareness among the local community. Co-organised by the Sandakan Official Association of Rehabilitation and the Duchess of Kent Hospital, the programme focuses on raising public awareness about non-communicable diseases such as stroke, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia. The aim is to highlight the importance of prevention, early detection and rehabilitation. The initiative was officiated by Sabah Health Director Dr Maria Suleiman. Also present were Duchess of Kent Hospital Director Dr Mohd Fahmie Othman, Sandakan Municipal Council President Walter Kinson, and Senior General Manager of Stakeholder Relations, Petronas Group Strategic Relations and Communications, Khairuddin M Jaafar. In line with its commitment to community well-being and development — a core pillar of its social impact initiatives — Petronas, together with its social impact arm Yayasan Petronas, consistently supports various health-related programmes in Sabah through strategic collaborations with the Ministry of Community Development and People's Wellbeing, as well as the Sabah State Health Department. 'Petronas' involvement in this program not only highlights our support for community well-being initiatives, but it also symbolises the spirit of collaboration between the public, private and community sectors for our collective well-being,' said Khairuddin. Petronas and Yayasan Petronas have been supporting healthcare initiatives in Sabah, providing crucial resources where they are needed most. Among its contributions — the funding of Duchess of Kent Hospital's Kent Cottage Anjung Kasih, which offers free accommodation to caregivers of patients undergoing treatment at the hospital, particularly those from remote or outlying areas. Building on this initiative, Petronas also supported the Sabah Social Welfare Department's Homeward initiative, a programme that equips patients recovering at home with essential medical equipment, including high-low beds and oxygen concentrators. Additionally, Yayasan Petronas further extended its support by donating haemodialysis machine sets for kidney treatment and infusion pumps for thalassemia patients, directly impacting the lives of those requiring specialised care.
The Star
17-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Sabah minister urges review of rural doctors' allowances
SANDAKAN: The lack of incentives for doctors serving in rural areas discourages them from working in challenging locations, prompting calls to review their allowances, says Datuk James Ratib Datuk James Ratib. James Ratib, who also serves as the Sabah Health EXCO, said that while basic salaries for doctors have been raised, their rural allowances have been "frozen," resulting in no significant difference in compensation between those working in rural and urban settings. He said this after launching the Sandakan-level Kaamatan Festival at the Sandakan Community Hall on Saturday (May 17). "I am urging the federal government, especially the Health Ministry, to reconsider this decision, as it affects the willingness of doctors to work in remote areas," he said. James noted that the difficult working conditions, including limited facilities and housing challenges, add to the struggles faced by doctors in rural areas, making it harder to retain medical personnel in places like Sabah and Sarawak. James, who also oversees community wellbeing, said that finding suitable housing for doctors in rural areas was a persistent issue, as many are reluctant to move due to the lack of proper accommodation. Meanwhile, James said that Sabah has received 100 additional dialysis machines for government hospitals and health clinics across the state, including six for the Duchess of Kent Hospital (HDOK) in Sandakan. He said the new machines would complement the existing units and replace faulty ones. James also thanked the Sabah government, under the leadership of Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, for approving the funding for these machines. He added that the Sandakan Hospital would be upgraded to a state-level facility, with an estimated RM400mil allocated for the project under the 13th Malaysia Plan. "The preliminary work, costing around RM400,000, is already underway, and the project has received federal approval in principle. We hope this upgrade will proceed quickly once the costing is finalised," he said.
