Puchong Needs A Hospital

It is hard to believe that the thriving township of Puchong, which has about 300,000 residents does not have a government hospital.

MP for Puchong, Gobind Singh Deo: You don’t want the person to die in an ambulance.

Awtar Singh: What about poor people? These people also deserve proper medical attention.

If its residents need to go to a government hospital, they will have to go to Petaling Jaya, Serdang or Putrajaya.

For many years, the low income group, which comprises 40 per cent of the population of Puchong, has appealed for a government hospital to be built in the area. Now, they are making another appeal to the authorities.

At present, the residents can only depend on a government polyclinic at Batu 14, Jalan Puchong and the Petaling Bahagia Community Clinic at the 6th mile of Jalan Puchong.

The residents were happy with the services at the army hospital in Kinrara but all that ended when the camp was closed down two years ago.

Abu Osman, 66, a resident said: "The army camp in Kinrara used to provide medical services and we were happy going there,"

He said it was difficult for old folks and small children to go to government hospitals as bus services to Serdang, Putrajaya and Petaling Jaya are not regular and direct to the hospitals.

"Many of us cannot afford taxi fares. It takes about an hour to get to any of these hospitals from here.

"Try to imagine our situation during emergencies like heart attack, premature delivery or accident," he said.

Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo said: "I have raised this issue in Parliament. The Batu 14 clinic is in front of my service centre and I can see there is a pressing need for a hospital in Puchong.

"The minister of health and his deputy should come unannounced if they want to see the problems faced by the people of Puchong. If a new hospital cannot be built, I don't see why the Batu 14 government clinic in Puchong cannot be upgraded to a hospital. There is enough space there.

"Puchong has developed very significantly and even a private hospital has been set up here which goes to show there are enough people in this constituency for a hospital.

"If you take a trip to the Batu 14 clinic, you'll find it is overcrowded, understaffed, lacking in facilities and equipment and doctors often have no choice but to refer patients to other hospitals.

"Serdang Hospital, Universiti Hospital and other hospitals are not very far away. But, when there is an emergency here, you need to get to the nearest hospital quickly, you don't want the person to die in an ambulance," he said.

Awtar Singh, a member of Pusat Bandar Puchong Residents' Association, said: "Residents in Puchong have to depend on a couple of government clinics for their medical needs.

"The population in Puchong is growing rapidly and even though there is a private hospital, not everyone can afford private medical care. What about poor people? These people also deserve proper medical attention. How can they afford exorbitant fees in private hospitals?

"We have been asking for a government hospital for three years. It would be good if the government polyclinic in Batu 14 is upgraded to a hospital complete with wards. Alternatively, the army camp in Batu 7 1/2 in Kinrara is an excellent place for a government hospital as it already has wards.

"Yes, there is one government clinic at Batu 6 near Jalan Klang Lama but it comes under the Federal Territory. The present government clinics are overcrowded. I understand that there are only five doctors at the polyclinic in Batu 14.

Source: NST