Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said her ministry had taken note of the complaints and problems related to health services in both these states.
She said these included the incident on Tuesday involving an elderly woman from Lawas who was reported to have died while being sent to the Miri Hospital after the ambulance was unable to pass through the Sungai Tujoh immigration, customs, quarantine and security (ICQS) complex in Miri, Sarawak.
“Actually, we are aware of the health service issues in Sabah and Sarawak, and we have also seen what caused it to happen in Lawas.
“It is about infrastructure. The trip from Lawas to the hospital in Miri is very far and there are several checkpoints to pass through.
“Therefore, these are among the issues we need to try to improve,” she told reporters after paying a working visit to the Segamat Hospital here today.
According to a Borneo Post report, there was no one at the gate of the ICQS complex when the ambulance arrived there at 1.30am.
Zaliha said efforts to improve these health services need the integrated cooperation of various government agencies.
In the meantime, Zaliha said she would examine one by one the earlier reported 13 “sick” projects under the ministry before any action is taken.
“We need to look into each ‘ailment’. We need to look at the complaints and diagnosis. Only then can we do something to overcome the problems,” she said.
In September, former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin was reported to have said that efforts were underway, in collaboration with the works ministry, to find a way to speed up the projects or through the appointment of a “rescue contractor”.
Zaliha, who is also the Sekijang MP, said the Segamat Hospital’s additional new building, worth RM90.5 million, would be operational early next year.
She said the new building, which began construction in 2018, would be equipped with four operation theatres, an intensive care unit (ICU) as well as a respiratory and hydrodynamics unit (RHU) that could accommodate the needs of the 223,000 residents in this district.
“With the facilities provided at this additional block, Segamat Hospital will be able to further expand its services to meet the needs of the people,” she added.
Also present during the working visit were ministry secretary-general Harjeet Singh, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and Johor health director Dr Aman Rabu.