New site mooted for 1960s-era Kapit Hospital amid space shortages, aging cardiac equipment

Nanta (fourth left) and Deputy Economy Minister Mohd Shahar (third left) visit Kapit Hospital to assess structural constraints and feasibility plans for a replacement facility. Photo credit: Facebook/Alexander Nanta Linggi

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Sept 23: The feasibility of building a new Kapit Hospital on a separate site is being considered as an alternative to major upgrading works at the existing facility, which has sections dating back to the 1960s.

According to a Facebook post, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the option should be studied seriously to determine whether it would provide a better long-term solution than carrying out major upgrades while the existing hospital remains operational.

“We need to look at the feasibility, the cost, the future needs and, most importantly, the impact on patients and healthcare workers.

“Kapit Hospital also faces constraints, including limited parking and congestion, with only one access road shared with SMK Kapit and Kapit Civic Centre,” he said.

He further explained that the hospital has limited patient waiting space, unsuitable helicopter landing facilities, restricted haemodialysis capacity and a need for additional and replacement cardiac examination equipment, including an ageing echocardiogram machine.

He said the hospital served not only Kapit residents but also patients referred from Song and surrounding interior areas.

“We need to ensure the work does not affect the hospital’s daily operations and treatment for patients. Next week, a meeting will be chaired by the Deputy Minister of Economy with the Ministry of Works and Ministry of Health to examine the matters raised, including measures to expedite the preliminary works for the upgrading of Hospital Kapit,” he added.

During the visit, Nanta and Mohd Shahar also inspected Klinik Kesihatan Kapit (KK Kapit), where manpower shortages and high staff turnover were raised, including the possibility of special incentives to attract and retain healthcare workers in the area.

He said several clinics in Kapit and Baleh also faced dilapidated staff quarters and shortages of four-wheel-drive vehicles needed for health outreach programmes to longhouses in interior areas.

The visit was held in conjunction with the SDG Bersasar 2026 programme in Kapit and Song and also included inspections of schools to assess education facilities and other development needs.

Also present was Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Law and Bumiputera Customs), Datuk Jefferson Jamit Unyat. — DayakDaily