Kota Kinabalu: The process of upgrading the Sandakan Duchess of Kent Hospital (HDoK) and Tawau Hospital to the level of a state hospital, like the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) here, is in progress, said Sabah Health Director Datuk Dr Rose Nani Mudin. She said this, together with other proposed upgrading, are already in the working paper being implemented by the Health Ministry.
“Yes, it is being carried out according to what had been planned. The Health Ministry will look at the budget set and also the resources like specialists and equipment required for these hospitals,” she told reporters after attending the launch of the Oxygen (O²) for the People #SharingIsCaring Programme at Menara Kinabalu, here, Monday.
Asked when it is expected to start, Dr Rose said it was currently in progress.
“For example the Beaufort Hospital, we have already started placement of specialists. But we have to do the process in stages, depending on the available resources, including specialists and equipment,” she said.
On the number of operation theatres, Dr Rose said the State Health Department was currently in the process of equipping the operation theatres.
“Because most of the hospitals in Sabah are already decades-old, there are operation theatres that need to be repaired and equipment replaced,” she said.
The department also planned to increase the number of operation theatres like for Tuaran Hospital where two more would be added to increase the number to four.
“Also, to have complete manpower, we need to train them to become fully competent to perform surgeries and so on. So it is a process being done and will take time,” she said.
On Sept 9 last year, former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had said both HDoK and Tawau Hospital will be upgraded to the level of a state hospital, the same as Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).
He said these three hospitals would be upgraded to become a Specialist Major Hospital, with the number of specialist services provided to be increased to 49.
At that time, QEH provided 44 specialist services, HDoK 18 and Tawau Hospital 15.
