Soon Koh appeals to authorities to address Sibu Hospital’s issues

SIBU (Sept 6): The Ministry of Health (MoH) and Sarawak government have been asked to address the challenges faced by Sibu Hospital.

In making the appeal, Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) senior vice-president Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said things must be done to improve the 30-year-old hospital.

He said if the federal government could not help directly, the state government would hopefully intervene in some way.

“I was involved in the construction of this hospital right at the beginning, so I know how it was like.

“After 30 years, apparently, infrastructure through years of wear and tear are quite run down. However, I must say that the hospital authorities under Dr Nanthakumar Thirunavukkarasu is trying its best to cope with whatever shortcomings.

“They are facing a lot of challenges, in terms of manpower shortages, infrastructures shortages, but they are trying to make do with what they have to the best of their ability,” he told reporters during a visit today.

According to the Bawang Assan assemblyman, nurses and doctors at the hospital are overworked and under a lot of stress.

“I get a lot of feedback that they are doing a good job in spite of the fact that they are facing with the shortage of manpower, there is a shortage of facilities,” he said.

He pointed out the hospital’s carpark is another problem that must be seriously addressed.

Sibu is the second largest hospital in Sarawak and acts as a referral centre for the state’s central zone.

It is also a lead hospital for the Central Zone Cluster Hospitals with non-lead hospitals Kapit Hospital, Kanowit Hospital, and Daro Hospital.

As of June, it has 662 official beds and 2,012 staff.