RANAU: Parti ANAK NEGERI today issued a strong call for the immediate upgrade and construction of a new, fully equipped hospital in Ranau, citing critical deficiencies in the district’s current healthcare infrastructure.
The party highlighted severe congestion at the existing Ranau District Hospital, leading to unacceptable patient waiting times and a shortage of beds, nurses, and doctors.
This forces dedicated staff to work in extremely challenging conditions, despite their exceptional professionalism.
The party questioned the local State Assemblymen from Paginatan, Kundasang, and Karanaan on their inaction to address this critical issue.
We want to know whether or not the construction of a new hospital has been prioritised in Ranau’s development plans.
If there will be a new hospital, he also suggested converting the current Ranau hospital buildings into a Ranau Health Clinic for outpatients with minor ailments, similar to the approach taken with the old Keningau hospital.
Parti ANAK NEGERI outlined the urgent need for a new facility due to several factors:
First, the need to address the ageing and inadequate facilities. The current hospital struggles to cope with population growth, frequently requiring patients to be transferred to Kota Kinabalu for treatment due to limited services and space.
Second, the structural vulnerability is a major concern. The 2015 Sabah earthquake damaged some hospital buildings, raising concerns about their seismic performance and the need for structural assessments.
Third, the need for more specialised services and equipment. Ranau Hospital lacks essential equipment like radiology, CT scan, and MRI machines and, critically, no specialist doctors. This forces patients to endure long waiting periods or costly travel to Kota Kinabalu for specialised care.
Fourth, the dire parking situation is an inconvenience to those seeking outpatient treatment. The hospital’s severely limited parking space creates immense difficulties for patients and their families, especially those transporting elderly individuals.
Parti ANAK NEGERI emphasised that the Ranau district urgently requires a significantly larger hospital with modern medical equipment, sufficient beds, and a full complement of specialist doctors.
Parti ANAK NEGERI urges immediate action from authorities to prioritise a new, fully equipped, and specialist-staffed hospital in Ranau with ample parking, asserting it is fundamental to ensuring quality healthcare for the district’s residents.
