PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced an initial allocation of RM80 million to set up a National Heart Centre in Kota Kinabalu.
He said the insufficiency of the existing facilities was forcing heart patients to travel to Kuala Lumpur for treatment.
“There are labs and clinic with only three heart specialists and 120 nurses. I think this is not enough. Sabah needs a cardiology centre badly,” he said today at a Raya event at the Sabah International Convention Centre in Kota Kinabalu.
“I approved a cancer centre in Kuching last month. As for Sabah, I have approved a cardiology centre at the state main hospital,” he added.
Anwar said the centre will likely occupy the Queen Elizabeth Hospital II.
Earlier, Anwar attended a meeting with federal and state government officials in which he noted a weakness in the implementation of projects in the state.
“I have listened to the problems, such as why some projects are behind schedule. We will try to resolve this in the best possible way,” he said.
In his speech, Anwar complimented the state government's efforts to reduce poverty in Sabah. He said the federal governmenr will work closely with the state to further reduce the numbers.
Anwar commended the the state for reducing the poverty rate from 22,150 households to 13,172 in just over three years.
“We will work together to further reduce the number and hopefully end poverty in the state this year," he said. – April 20, 2024.
