Bukit mertajam: The 135-year-old Bukit Mertajam Hospital (HBM) is slated for an upgrade to ease congestion, said Human Resource Minister Steven Sim. He announced that the Health Ministry (MOH) is conducting a detailed study on the design, cost, and development plan before a decision is finalized.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, HBM is currently experiencing congestion, affecting not only patients and visitors but also traffic, due to a shortage of parking spaces. As a response, the MOH, in collaboration with the state government and the hospital, plans to upgrade the facility. The state government has agreed to provide an eight-acre (3.2 hectares) plot at BM Rest House, opposite the hospital, should it be deemed suitable for the upgrade.

Sim stated that the development plan, including the type of blocks to be built and services to be provided, is still subject to the MOH's decision. Currently, HBM has 242 beds, and with the upgrade, the number could be doubled to provide better services for residents of Bukit Mertajam and nearby areas.

Additionally, Sim mentioned that he would meet Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad next week to discuss the matter and request an expedited planning and design process. Earlier, he inspected new toilet facilities at the hospital, developed with a RM200,000 contribution from his office.

He also highlighted that these facilities were among the key factors that earned HBM the Gold Award for the Most Sustainable Hospital at the Hospital Management Asia (HMA) 2025 awards held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on September 11. Despite being one of the oldest hospitals in the region, HBM has achieved nearly an 11 percent reduction in energy consumption and a carbon reduction of about 350 tonnes per year, contributing to environmental sustainability and saving nearly RM250,000 in operating costs annually.