The completion of the first phase of the Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) Teaching Hospital Complex is expected within a period of five years, according to Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, the Higher Education Minister. The hospital will be situated in Sedili, Kota Tinggi, with the aim of providing improved healthcare facilities to rural areas and conducting research on diseases. Mohamed Khaled stated that the design and planning process is expected to commence next year, and completing the first phase will take about five years. He also highlighted the time-consuming processes involved such as planning and design, land surveillance, identification, and the tender process.
Mohamed Khaled expressed these remarks during a meeting with reporters at the Renaissance Hotel in Johor on Saturday (Oct 21) after the Higher Education Ministry Dinner with the Johor Media. He mentioned that locating a teaching hospital away from its university is not uncommon, as it has been done previously by other universities like Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIA). The USM Hospital is situated in Kota Baru, Kelantan, while the UIA Hospital is located in Kuantan, Pahang. The purpose of this practice is to create diverse catchment areas, allowing better understanding of health issues that affect different communities, which in turn adds value to the hospital’s operations.
Mohamed Khaled also disclosed that the project will be carried out in two phases, making it a significant addition to the teaching hospital ecosystem. He hopes that the development of the Usim Hospital, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on October 13, with an allocation worth RM938mil, will contribute to the future production of more health experts.
