MELAKA: The quest for a new Melaka Hospital to address the high patient load at third-class wards and other shortcomings will be prioritised by the state government, says health, human resources and unity committee chairman Ngwe Hee Sem.

       He said the proposal for the new hospital would look into the aspect of providing more efficient hospital care, better facilities and to address the issue of overcrowding at the current facility.

       “We need to have a balance between patients’ requirement and the supply of beds, as well as sufficient medical staff,” he said when contacted.

       The state government had earlier proposed a 24ha site at Durian Tunggal for the new hospital, which is estimated to cost RM543mil.

       It would replace the present one which was opened in 1934.

       However, construction of the new hospital reportedly faced glitches due to land acquisition process.

       Ngwe acknowledged yesterday that Melaka Hospital had to deal with congestion in the third-class ward.

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       But despite such problems, he said the hospital had been providing good healthcare to its patients.

       He also said that a women and children’s hospital with 476 beds would be set up in Melaka by 2030.