Perak human resources, health, Indian community affairs and national integration committee chairman A Sivanesan said the state now has 14 hospitals with almost 5,800 beds available, 88 health clinics, 126 village clinics and four mobile clinics.

The Pangkor health clinic will also be opened before the end of the year, he told reporters here today.

“We have been allocated RM5 million to acquire land for the new site of Kampar Hospital. This will become a reality in the future.

“We had problems over this piece of land but this has now been sorted.”

On the issue concerning the name of Parit Buntar Hospital, Sivanesan said it was discussed at the state executive council meeting two days ago and it was unanimously decided that its name should be retained.

“I will be writing to the health minister to not change the name for any reason,” he said.

On Feb 29, the media reported there was opposition to renaming Parit Buntar Hospital to Bagan Serai Hospital.

Sivanesan spoke after housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming launched the 50th anniversary of the LEC Eye Centre.

LEC will sponsor cataract surgeries for 50 underprivileged patients and also sponsor 90 pairs of spectacles for orphans. The cataract operations will cost RM150,000 and the spectacles RM4,000 to RM5,000.