Perak Exco Denies Taiping Hospital Has No Housemen

TAIPING, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- The Perak state government has denied claims by a local news portal that no housemen have been placed at Taiping Hospital, resulting in difficulties in the hospital’s operations. 

State Human Resources, Health, Indian Community Affairs and National Integration Committee chairman Datuk A. Sivanesan said there are currently 93 housemen at Malaysia’s oldest hospital. 

“To say that there are no housemen at all placed at this hospital is completely untrue. However, we acknowledge that several other shortages are being addressed and will be resolved by the hospital management,” he said. 

He said this at a press conference after visiting Taiping Hospital here today with Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh, who is also the Taiping Member of Parliament. 

On Sept 7, a health news portal claimed that the absence of housemen had forced medical officers (MOs) to take on the housemen’s duties in addition to their clinical responsibilities.

On the parking issue at the same hospital, Sivanesan said it would be addressed through the restructuring of existing areas in collaboration with the private sector, including the construction of a mechanical parking facility. 

He said the measure was expected to gradually ease congestion and the shortage of parking spaces at the hospital. 

“The problem is due to the limited land area. Therefore, the construction of a multi-storey parking facility will maximise the use of the space available at this hospital,” he said. 

He added that the implementation of the project would also include the provision of signboards and parking bay markings for patients and staff. 

-- BERNAMA