GEORGE TOWN – The expansion of Seberang Jaya Hospital, which was supposed to have been completed in 2018, has been delayed, with the project now left abandoned.
This deprives health authorities of another 638 beds, a pressing issue as the hospital is facing a shortage of beds for Covid-19 patients.
The RM368 million project, involving a 10-storey block that includes a multi-level car park, was launched in 2015.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was then deputy prime minister, had announced that works would be completed in 42 months.
The project was delayed when the federal government changed following the May 2018 general election won by Pakatan Harapan, of which Muhyiddin was a member.
The PH government had demanded an “open tender system” to ensure transparency, inadvertently contributing to the delay.
In February 2019, it was reported that 15 out of 19 open tenders had not been awarded as a result of the change in government.
Construction of the new block adjoining the main hospital building was further put off due to the movement controls implemented to stem Covid-19.
The block is to house departments offering clinical services, rehabilitative medicine, and cardiology and paediatric cardiothoracic services.
It would also serve as a referral centre for the northern region, for cardiothoracic and neurosurgical services and procedures.
The building is to have eight operating theatres, catering to the increasing number of patients.
The facilities in the new block would also cater to patients in southern Kedah and northern Perak as a “tertiary” hospital.
A senior medical staffer, who declined to be named, said planning of the new building was initiated about 15 years ago.
A doctor, who also declined to be named, told The Vibes that the hospital is facing overcrowding due to its insufficient beds.
“The 22-year-old Seberang Jaya Hospital is facing an overcrowding problem, as it only has 393 beds.
“It has five operating theatres, and unfortunately, it cannot cope with the increasing number of surgeries.”
The nearest hospital is the century-old Bukit Mertajam Hospital, which has three operating theatres with old equipment.
For more than a year now, Bukit Mertajam Hospital patients requiring surgery are referred to Kepala Batas Hospital. After the procedure, they are taken back via ambulance.
Seberang Jaya assemblyman and former Penang health exco Dr Afif Bahardin said the PH government’s open tender system delayed Seberang Jaya Hospital’s expansion.
He said in 2018, the Finance Ministry called for a re-tendering, which saw the main contractor and 19 subcontractors going through the process again.
He said the subcontractors were genuine and qualified Bumiputera contractors, and would have completed the job had they been allowed to proceed.
“The main contractor won the (new) tender, but the 19 subcontractors failed to get the job. New subcontractors were appointed to continue the project.
“The main contractor had completed about 90% of the structure, with the remaining 10% being the installation of lifts, medical equipment, air-conditioning units and so on.”
He expressed concern that his constituents are unable to seek treatment at the hospital due to the delayed project.
“As health exco, I had brought up the issue and expressed my views and fears on the delay of the project at the state exco meeting, and I wrote a letter to the Finance Ministry, stating the dire consequences if the project continues to be ignored.
“However, the ministry did not consider my letter, and went ahead with the re-tendering.
“I do not blame the main contractor, as they had delivered by completing 90% of the main structure. I blame the policymakers for the delay.
“Whatever the reasons may be, I pray that the project is completed as soon as possible.” – The Vibes, January 22, 2021
