By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, Feb 25 — The state government is exploring plans to build a public hospital in Petaling Jaya to address overcrowding and reduce long wait times at existing healthcare facilities.
State executive councillor for public health and the environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the state administration is working with the Health Ministry (MOH) to evaluate the need for a new hospital in the district, as patient congestion grows at the Shah Alam Hospital.
“Preliminary discussions were held with MOH before the State Legislative Assembly sitting to explore suitable alternatives or the possibility of building a hospital in the eastern part of Petaling Jaya,” she said in her winding-up speech during the Assembly session yesterday.
[caption id="attachment_390579" align="alignright" width="518"]
State executive councillor for public health and the environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin speaks during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly session in Dewan Negeri Selangor, Shah Alam, on February 19, 2025. — Picture by MOHD KHAIRUL HELMY MOHD DIN/MEDIASELANGOR[/caption]
Currently, the Shah Alam Hospital is the closest public hospital serving residents in Petaling, while Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), a teaching hospital, is the other government-funded facility in the district.
However, UMMC recently announced an increase in consultation, admission, and service charges, citing rising costs of medical supplies and equipment.
The new charges, which were last revised in 2019, came into effect on January 1.
It said that consultation fees have risen from RM5 to RM15 at general clinics, from RM30 to RM80 for specialist consultations, and from RM15 to RM50 for follow-up specialist consultations.
As for admission fees for single adult rooms, it has increased from RM120 to RM300.
The price hike has raised concerns among local communities, as Petaling Jaya residents may now have to bear higher costs for public healthcare.
Meanwhile, Jamaliah said that one of the primary challenges in building a new public hospital is securing land, as it must be developed on MOH-owned land, with an estimated requirement of 15 to 20 acres.
“We have discussed potential allocations, but the priority of this discussion remains on identifying the right location and ensuring the land is suitable for development,” she said.
Jamaliah also cited the Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin Hospital, formerly the Kajang Hospital as a possible model for the new facility, as an example, stating how it effectively serves local communities despite its limited land size.
“If a full-service hospital cannot be built, we are considering establishing a healthcare facility that could at least cater to the needs of the local community and reduce the patient load at Hospital Shah Alam,” she said, adding that a vertical design could be used to maximise space.
Beyond Petaling Jaya, the state is also looking at improving existing healthcare facilities, including the Shah Alam Hospital, where plans are being discussed for an additional block with parking and 400 new beds.
“We are also looking to enhance outpatient services by increasing the number of specialist clinics at the Shah Alam Hospital,” Jamaliah said.
She also spoke of the Federal government’s Hospital Services Outsourcing Programme, which began in July 2024, which aims to reduce congestion by outsourcing patients from MOH hospitals to private healthcare facilities.
