JOHOR BARU: The state government has set aside RM2 million to upgrade the Gelang Patah, Majidee, and Tebrau health clinics, which are dilapidated.
Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said this was part of a short-term measure to improve these facilities.
This includes upgrading ultrasound machines, air conditioning, chairs in the waiting area, wall fans, computers and printers, ambulances, as well as tables and chairs for doctors and nurses.
"Following my visit to the Gelang Patah Health Clinic, I held a meeting to discuss the issues of underdeveloped, outdated and overcrowded health clinics in Johor, namely the Gelang Patah, Majidee, Tebrau and Kulai health clinics.
"In the meeting, we discussed various issues and proposed phased solutions to address these problems.
"For the medium-term solution, the state government has allocated RM1 million to relocate the Gelang Patah Maternal and Child Clinic to other premises to accommodate the population's needs and density in the area," he said in a statement today.
Onn Hafiz said RM1 million has also been allocated to the Iskandar Puteri City Council for public parking facilities at Gelang Patah health clinic.
He said the long-term solution would involve the construction of new health clinics at Gelang Patah, Majidee, and Kulai, where sites have already been identified.
"The state government is confident that with the help and support of the Federal Government, the issues of dilapidated and outdated clinics can be resolved.
"We hope that all efforts to improve health facilities will be implemented for the comfort of Johoreans, and will have a positive impact on the quality of daily life," he said.
Last month, during a surprise visit to the Gelang Patah health clinic, Onn Hafiz expressed his disappointment at the condition of the clinic, which he described as very poor.
During the visit, he shared his concerns about the overcrowded and cramped waiting area, as well as its outdated and broken facilities.
The health clinic had limited, disorganised parking and a shortage of equipment like ultrasound machines and computers.
It serves an average of over 800 visitors daily but struggles to accommodate nearly 100,000 residents in Iskandar Puteri.
Onn Hafiz said there have been calls for a new health clinic to serve the area.
In July, Onn Hafiz had an unannounced visit to the Kulai health clinic to assess its operations and noted that the clinic's premises were cramped, with insufficient equipment for the staff.
He said the parking was limited and disorganised, and the waiting area had worn-out and broken chairs and fans.
He added that it received about 1,000 visitors daily, beyond its capacity.
He gave his assurance that the government would assist to the fullest extent possible in resolving this issue.
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