Kuala Lumpur: Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor has decreed the Ministry of Health (MOH) to consider building new hospitals and improving existing facilities to tackle the acute shortage of beds in major hospitals across the state. His Royal Highness highlighted that the current bed utilisation is so high that many patients are unable to secure beds upon admission to the wards.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sultan Sharafuddin also directed the MOH to establish more clinics in strategic locations to widen access to healthcare services at reasonable charges. He noted a shortage of health clinic facilities in Selangor relative to the state's population. The Sultan acknowledged the presence of numerous private hospitals and clinics but pointed out that many people cannot afford the costs associated with them.
During his speech at the opening of the Women and Children Centre and the rebranding of Kajang Hospital to Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin Hospital, the Sultan emphasized the need for the MOH to address the shortage of government health workers, which has led to some working double shifts. His Royal Highness urged the immediate resolution of this issue by creating additional positions to meet the urgent need and to ensure the welfare of hospital staff, thereby enhancing their ability to provide optimal service to the public.
The Sultan further expressed the necessity for Malaysia, especially Selangor, to prepare for an ageing population by 2035. He stated that the current medical and healthcare services, particularly geriatric care, are not yet comparable to those in Japan and Singapore. He advocated for the expansion and upgrading of geriatric units at hospitals and clinics and called for the construction of a referral hospital dedicated to geriatric care in Selangor. Sultan Sharafuddin also stressed the importance of promoting healthy living practices from early life stages across all age groups.
In his concluding remarks, Sultan Sharafuddin expressed optimism that the new Women and Children Centre at Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin Hospital will enhance service quality for residents of the Hulu Langat district. He acknowledged the hospital's long history since 1889 and its ongoing improvements to provide comprehensive women's and children's health services, now supported by sophisticated and high-tech equipment.