TANJUNG KARANG: A new RM250mil hospital will be built here to replace the existing 46-year-old hospital.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who launched the site of the new building here, said the 150-bed hospital would be ready by 2016.

"The groundbreaking and earthworks will be done this year. JKR (Public Works Department) will be calling for tenders. Next year, the infrastructure works should commence," Liow told reporters after inspecting the 16.19ha site on Thursday.

The site, located 6.5km from Tanjung Karang town and 7.5km from Kuala Selangor town, is expected to serve some 200,000 residents in the vicinity.

The hospital will also be upgraded to a "minor specialist hospital", said Liow.

"For now, cases requiring specialists are referred to the Sungai Buloh Hospital, which is quite a distance away.

"There are eight visiting specialists who come weekly to the current Tanjung Karang Hospital, and when the new building is ready, we will station some of the specialists permanently here," he said.

The number of doctors serving at the hospital will also increase from the current 22, while horsemanship programmes would also be introduced, he said.

Liow also announced an allocation of RM500,000 to upgrade and maintain the existing hospital, which would be converted into a haemodialysis centre after the new building is completed.

Liow also announced RM6.5mil for the development of a community clinic here, as well as an additional two ambulances for the Tanjung Karang Hospital.

source:the star online