Construction of Hospital Shah Alam began in 2007 and was supposed to be operational in 2011. The Health Ministry now says it will open in June this year. – Tajahomestay pic, March 6, 2015.
Some 300 dengue patients in Klang were transferred to Banting Hospital, some 45km away, in the past month because of limited space and facilities at Klang's Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR).
The situation was compounded by the fact that the construction of Hospital Shah Alam (HSA), which began in 2007, has been delayed from its initial completion date of 2011.
Many of the patients have no choice but to be admitted to a hospital far from their homes as there are no government hospitals in Shah Alam.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam had said the new hospital in Shah Alam was expected to be operational in the middle of this year.
Selangor Health, Welfare, Women's Affairs and Family exco Dr Daroyah Alwi said HTAR received about 100 dengue patients daily and the majority of them have to be transferred to Banting and Sungai Buloh hospitals.
"HTAR only has 180 beds for dengue patients. When the number of patients exceeds the number of beds, we are forced to move them to other hospitals," she told The Malaysian Insider.
"On average, dengue patients are hospitalised for three to four days. In a day, there may be 100 patients but they can only be admitted when there is an available bed," she said.
Daroyah said one of the main factors contributing to the high number of patients in HTAR was the delay in HSA's operations.
"The building has been completed, the question is, when will it be operational?
"This is important. All HTAR patients are from Klang and the Petaling and Kuala Selangor districts.
"There are also patients from Tanjong Karang Hospital who are referred to HTAR," she added.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam says the 2,300-bed Hospital Shah Alam built at a cost of RM410 million requires close inspection. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, March 6, 2015.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam says the 2,300-bed Hospital Shah Alam built at a cost of RM410 million requires close inspection. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, March 6, 2015.
According to the latest dengue statistics for Selangor, Petaling district recorded the highest number of cases at 5,967 involving 16 deaths, followed by Hulu Langat (2,222 cases, seven deaths), Klang (1,824 cases, no deaths) and Gombak (1,238 cases, one death).
Among the patients transferred from HTAR to Banting Hospital was Marsya Fakhirah Fahlavei, 20, from Shah Alam.
Marsya said when she was admitted to HTAR, located about 12km from her home, she was placed in an observation room. She said she was not treated at HTAR but instead, transferred to Banting.
"I know HTAR is full, but rather than not be treated at all, it is better to be transferred although the current hospital is further from home," she said, adding that Banting Hospital was more comfortable than HTAR which is bursting at its seams.
The only problem, she said, was the distance, which meant her family were unable to visit her often.
Another dengue patient, Nurhusna Jusoh, 21, also from Shah Alam, said despite the distance and being placed in a mixed ward, she was more comfortable at Banting Hospital as there were fewer patients there.
According to a ward attendant at Banting Hospital, HTAR dengue patients are placed in the same ward.
Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said he made a request to the Works Ministry to be allowed to inspect HSA last year, but he has yet to get a reply.
"I am waiting for the minister to give a date. I want to visit the site, he said he will arrange, but to date, nothing," Khalid said.
The PAS federal lawmaker wants to table a motion on the delay of the hospital when Parliament sits next week.
Khalid said the Health Ministry had said at the last Parliament sitting that the hospital would be operational in March this year.
"However, according to unofficial information, it may only be completed in June," he said.
The construction of HSA in Section 7, Shah Alam commenced on November 15, 2007 but failed to be completed on time in 2011.
As a result, a new contactor was appointed to complete the hospital in the same year.
Last October, Dr Subramaniam had said his ministry was working hard to inspect the equipment and medical facilities.
He had said the 2,300-bed hospital built at a cost of RM410 million required close inspection, including testing of equipment to ensure everything was functioning properly.
- TMI
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