Miri hospital next to get heart equipment in Sarawak
Miri Hospital will be the third public hospital in Sarawak to have facilities to visualize and treat abnormalities of the heart and blood vessels with the approval of RM16 million to establish an Invasive Catheterization Lab (ICL) in the hospital.
The budget was approved by the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) and will specifically benefit residents in Northern Sarawak who have historically relied on the Sarawak Heart Centre in Kota Samarahan for critical heart treatments.
An Invasive Catheterization Lab is a high-tech diagnostic imaging room used by cardiologists to perform minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease.
With this facility, Miri Hospital will be able to perform life-saving interventions locally, eliminating the risks and costs associated with transporting unstable patients.
According to the Deputy Foreign Minister and Member of Parliament for Sibuti, Dato’ Lukanisman Awang Sauni, the establishment of the ICL is a “game changer” for the region’s healthcare landscape.
It is understood that the project complements the massive transformation of Miri Hospital, which includes the completion of the RM289.2 million Extension Building (Block B).
The new block has increaed the number of beds to 667.
Prior to this, it was also announced that Bintulu Hospital was also equipped with the an Invasive Catheterization Lab.
About Miri Hospital
Miri Hospital traces back to the early 20th century, when a general hospital was operated by Shell at the tip of the Miri Peninsula to serve oil industry workers. This facility was handed over to the Sarawak government on August 1, 1960.
As Miri grew, a more modern facility was required. The current hospital at Jalan Cahaya was built at a cost of RM123.91 million using the “Nucleus Hospital” concept from the UK. It officially began operations on May 6, 1995, and was formally inaugurated by the then Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, on August 30, 1996.
In the 2020s, the hospital reached a new turning point. To address overcrowding, a RM289.2 million extension project (Block B) was initiated, with the ground-breaking in October 2020. Completed in early 2024, this expansion increased the hospital’s capacity to 677 beds.
Today, Miri Hospital serves as the primary specialist hub for 1.5 million people across Northern Sarawak, including Limbang and Lawas.
News source: TVS, Miri Resort City, Jiwa Bakti
