Repair of 6 Segamat health facilities to be completed within 6 months

 

Six flood-damaged health facilities in Johor are expected to have repair works completed within six months.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the six facilities were Chaah health clinic and five rural clinics in Kampung Tengah, Kampung Jawa, Kampung Jabi, Tenang Station and Desa Temu Jodoh, all in Segamat.

“The total damage is estimated at RM1.8 million and the cost of repairing all these facilities is estimated at RM750,000.

“The amount (of allocation for) this purpose has been approved,” she told reporters after visiting Kampung Tengah rural clinic today.

When asked if there are any facilities that are being considered for relocation following the risk of the disaster, she said that thus far, only the Kampung Tengah rural clinic has been identified to be relocated.

“In Kampung Tengah, the clinic is not only exposed to flooding but it is located close to the road and there has been an accident involving a lorry.

“We have already visited a new site 3km from here, which will be considered to build a new facility,” Zaliha (above) said.

Contract system

When asked about the recommendation for the ministry to change the healthcare workers’ contract system to one that is independent of the Public Service Department and the Finance Ministry, Zaliha said the proposal could be considered.

“My comment is, that's a good point of view. We can consider it but it's not something that can be implemented quickly because it involves the service ecosystem itself,” said the Sekijang MP.

On Friday, public health physician and epidemiologist Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar urged the Health Ministry to change the system if the ministry wants to improve the quality of the sector.

According to Zainal, the government needs to create an independent system so that the welfare of the group can be improved.

A total of 6,036 medical officers and 890 Health Ministry specialists were reported to have resigned from 2018 to 2022.

- Bernama