Health and defence ministries to finalise location of HSA 2 soon

JOHOR BAHRU - The Health Ministry (MOH) and the Defence Ministry (Mindef) will expected to decide on the proposed location for the construction of Hospital Sultanah Aminah 2 (HSA 2) in two or three months.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the discussions between the two ministries proceeded smoothly and Mindef also took note of the importance and need for the construction of HSA 2.

" We will have no problem (to build HSA 2) once the location is finalised," she said after the handover ceremony of a Johor health facility at HSA, today.

Also present were Health director-general, Datuk Dr. Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan and Johor State Health Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon.

She said this when asked about the development of discussions with Mindef regarding its land at the proposed Skudai site for the construction of HSA 2.

Previously, Ling was reported to have said that the state government was waiting for the outcome of discussions between the two ministries regarding the issue of Mindef-owned land for the proposed HSA 2.

In another development, Dr Zaliha said her ministry would refine the proposal to allow cancer patients to buy formula milk in the hospital at a cheaper price than the market.

"We have to first look for information on the kind of milk suitable for cancer patients," she said.

Earlier, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister (KPDN) Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub was reported to have said that he would discuss with the Health Minister so that patients would be allowed to buy formula milk for cancer patients in hospitals at a cheaper price than the market.

According to him, formula milk for cancer patients is not a price control item and it is expensive because it is imported. - BERNAMA