He said that the move was necessary because bed utilisation in several major hospitals is now so high that there are patients who could not be admitted due to the shortage of beds.
The Selangor ruler also ordered the health ministry to consider building more new clinics in strategic areas to enable the people to have wider access to healthcare services at reasonable charges.
“I have found that there is a shortage of health clinic facilities throughout Selangor, when taking into account the state’s population,” the ruler said in his speech when opening the Women and Children Centre and the rebranding of Kajang Hospital to Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin Hospital here today.
“Although the number of private hospitals and clinics is quite large in Selangor, most of the people are still unable to afford the costs.”
Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin was in attendance.
Also present were menteri besar Amirudin Shari and health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad.
In his speech, Sultan Sharafuddin also drew attention to the issue of a shortage of government health workers, to the extent that some of them have to work double shifts.
As a remedy, he ordered the health ministry to immediately resolve the issue so that the number of health workers can be distributed fairly.
“If the number of positions is insufficient, create the positions to meet this urgent need.
“I believe that with an organised and improved work system, the welfare of hospital staff will be guaranteed and their mental and physical wellbeing will be stronger in providing the best service to the people,” he said.
Sultan Sharafuddin also expressed the view that health services in this country, especially in Selangor, need to be immediately prepared to face the increase in elderly patients following the projection that Malaysia will achieve the status of an ageing nation by 2035.
The sultan remarked that the medical and healthcare services, particularly geriatric care, are still at a stage that is not yet on par with countries like Japan and Singapore.
“I believe that geriatric units at several hospitals and health clinics should be expanded and upgraded with appropriate specialist personnel,” he said.
The ruler also instructed the health ministry to consider the construction of a referral hospital dedicated to geriatric care to meet the growing needs in Selangor.
“In fact, healthy living practices need to be emphasised starting from the early stages of life and comprehensively to all age groups, not limited to the elderly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sultan Sharafuddin said the Women and Children Centre at the newly-rebranded Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin Hospital is expected to be able to improve the quality of services to the people in the Hulu Langat district.