Jalan Tun Razak holds potential to become medical hub

Some of the hospitals located along and around Jalan Tun Razak are the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL), the National Heart Institute (IJN), Pusrawi Hospital, National Blood Centre, KPJ Tawakkal Specialist Hospital, the Respiratory Medical Institute and Prince Court Medical Centre.

The Kuala Lumpur Health Clinic set to be the largest government clinic, capable of treating up to 4,000 patients a day, is also situated in the vicinity.

Commenting on the medical hub, HKL director Datuk Dr Zaininah Mohd Zain said Jalan Tun Razak could be enhanced further as a medical hub because with the well-established hospitals in the area it is already a natural medical hub.

"If we look back into history, it all started with the construction of HKL subsequently IJN and the National Blood Centre were built on the HKL-owned land and soon after private medical centres started to emerge along the busy stretch and its surrounding areas," she said.

Dr Zaininah foresees there would be a rise in patient arrival statistics at the facilities provided by the medical centres should the medical hub become a reality.

Yet, despite the potential of becoming a medical hub, many people have complained that traffic along Jalan Tun Razak could be a nightmare, especially during peak hours.

A check by Bernama found that even ambulances could get into great difficulty maneuvering through the road congestion.

In confirming this situation, Dr Zaininah felt it was necessary to make some changes and improvements toward smoother and more efficient traffic system.

"All we need is just a little patience because I reckon the road congestion will be over with the completion of the special route connecting phase two of the Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE) by year's end and the MRT 2 project in 2022.

Meanwhile, KL City Hall executive director (Planning) Datuk Mohd Najib Mohd said DBKL was ready to play its role if there were plans to create a medical hub in the area.

"If the Health Ministry wants to implement this project in future, City Hall is prepared to upgrade infrastructure systems such entry points and traffic flow in the area," he said.

He said it was possible to have the medical hub with the development of public transport and interchange facilities such as the MRT2 Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) line which would pass through Jalan Tun Razak.

"The MRT developers have already informed that MRT2 construction will begin soon and underground lines will be connected to the new MRT stations including the Kuala Lumpur Hospital Station to be built opposite the Istana Budaya and operational in 2022," he said.