Ipoh's Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital needs funds for more beds, says MB

IPOH: The Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) in Ipoh urgently needs funding for additional beds, according to Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, the Perak Mentri Besar. Saarani mentioned that the shortage of beds has caused inconvenience for patients seeking treatment at the hospital. He emphasized the necessity for more beds to ensure the comfort of the people, and highlighted that the lack of beds has resulted in longer waiting times for admission. Saarani expressed these concerns during his speech at the Perak Budget 2024 Roadshow.

During the event held at the state secretariat building on September 18, Deputy Finance Minister II Steven Sim was also in attendance. Saarani pointed out that due to the increasing number of semi-critical and emergency cases, congestion has been observed at the hospital’s emergency and trauma unit. He mentioned that the situation has gained attention on social media, with many people sharing videos and pictures of the overcrowding. Saarani called on the Finance Ministry to approve the allocation to address this issue.

Saarani highlighted that the need for additional beds and the upgrading of HRPB are among nine priority and high-impact projects that have been identified by the state government and submitted to the Federal Government. These projects have a short and medium-term implementation period and amount to approximately RM138.7 billion. The Mentri Besar emphasized that the health sector is one of the main areas of focus for the state government.

Furthermore, Saarani mentioned that the state government has also submitted other projects to the Federal Government, including upgrading education facilities and infrastructures at Rancangan Perkampungan Tersusun (RPT). He requested the government to consider approving at least some of these projects, even if not all can be approved.