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Government Building 7 Paperless Hospitals: PM |
| Lumut: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr
Mahathir Mohamad Monday said the government is building seven paperless
hospitals using latest technology system. He said the hospitals would be equipped with computers to process medical data. "Malaysia will soon have the most sophisticated health services among developing countries and on par with developed nations," he said when opening the RM63.35 million Lumut Military Hospital at the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Base here. Dr Mahathir said the government was prepared to spend huge amount of money to provide health services to the people, especially to armed forces personnel in appreciation of their services and sacrifices in maintaining the country's peace. Their selfless contributions had enabled the Government to concentrate on development for the people's wellbeing, he said. Dr Mahathir hoped the armed forces would continue their services to preserve the prevailing peace and order enjoyed by the people. "If the country is not peaceful or attacked by external enemies, we have to spend a lot to overcome the situation, we will not have enough money to provide facilities to the people," he said. On the hospital, Dr Mahathir said he was happy that the hospital had state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to treat armed forces personnel and the public. He was confident that with the keen interest and commitment shown by the hospital staff, it might be well-known as a sophisticated and specialised treatment centre. Dr. Mahathir cited as example the hospital's "hyper-baric chamber" treatment facility solely to treat diseases contracted by divers that required exposure to temperature and high-pressure oxygen. Such treatment was crucial for navy divers, public divers and those taking up diving as a recreational activity as they are exposed to unusual ailments. The hospital, with 164 beds in eight wards, was completed in 1995 and began operations in January 1, 1996. It can accommodate 35,000 military personnel, ex-servicemen and Defence Ministry civilian staff and their family members. |