Kota Kinabalu: Plans are in the pipeline for a new clinical building at QEH to address the growing healthcare demands in the State.
“This new clinical building will increase service capacity and add more beds to reduce congestion and expedite patient treatment access,” said State Health Director Dr Maria Suleiman.
She was represented by Deputy (Medicine) Datuk Dr Abd Kahar Abd Asis.
The expansion is in response to frequent feedback about lengthy waiting times in the emergency department due to insufficient bed capacity.
“Sometimes patients seeking help have to wait long in emergency because of inadequate beds. We truly want to help but are constrained by the insufficient number of beds,” she said.
The new building project, which has received preliminary approval from the Ministry of Health, is currently in the early planning phase. She praised Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s achievements, noting its status as one of the excellent hospitals nationally when compared to several hospitals in the region.
“This is not only a source of national pride but also pride for us in Sabah,” she said.
The hospital, which serves as the State’s main referral centre with national standards, continues to face daily challenges despite its staff’s dedication.
“The commitment shown by the staff brings many blessings, and today we receive contributions,” she said.
Dr Maria expressed gratitude to the Commonwealth Association of Leadership Malaysia (CALM) for the signboard-cum- historical gallery initiative and to the State Ministry of Finance for their financial support in realising this.
Acknowledging the importance of public-private partnerships, Dr Maria called for more organisations to step forward through corporate social responsibility initiatives.
“The success of our healthcare system does not depend solely on government strength but also on inclusive cooperation networks with the private sector, non-governmental organisations and the community.
“Every contribution given is not just filling needs but sowing hope and building meaning. Our doors are always open and our hands are always ready to welcome acts of kindness at any time from anyone,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dr Kahar pointed to the need for strong political will and leadership to ensure the project, already included in the Malaysia Plan (RMK) list, moves forward smoothly.
He said the expansion plans will be coupled with a multi-storey car parking project to resolve the hospital’s chronic parking shortage.
