New Serian Health Clinic eases hospital congestion, boosts local care

SERIAN (Jan 16): The opening of Serian Health Clinic marks a major milestone in enhancing healthcare services for residents in the area, with the new facility expected to ease congestion at the Serian Hospital and improve local access to primary healthcare.

The Type 3 clinic, the first integrated health facility built in the Serian Division, brings a range of essential services under one roof.

These include the Maternal and Child Health Unit, Outpatient Department, Pharmacy, Laboratory, Emergency Unit, Radiology Unit and Dental Clinic.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad was in Serian on Thursday for a walkabout and the symbolic launch of the new facility.

Serian MP Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem said the clinic’s operation was a long-awaited development for the local community, describing it as a historic day for the area.

“This marks a new era for Serian.

“The clinic will help reduce the workload and congestion at Serian Hospital, especially for outpatient services, which have been under significant pressure,” he said.

Riot added that transferring outpatient cases from the hospital to the new clinic would directly address long-standing overcrowding issues at Serian Hospital.

The RM23.9-million Serian Health Clinic project kicked off the construction in April 2020, and reached full completion five years later, before commencing operations on April 7 last year.

The key components of the project included the main Type 3 clinic block, a two-storey staff quarters block, a store unit, pump house, ambulance garage, main switchboard and generator house, guardhouse, and a designated parking area.

Covering an area of approximately 2,790 square metres, the clinic was designed to serve between 300 and 500 patients daily, and should benefit more than 85,000 residents in the Serian area.

Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Health Minister Dato Hanifah Hajar Taib; state Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang; Bukit Semuja assemblyman John Ilus; and Health Department Sarawak director Dr Veronica Lugah.