Najib launches Permata Children's Specialist Hospital project

The project involves establishing by 2017 a RM606-million modern and high-technology hospital that focuses comprehensively on paediatrics.

In launching the project, Najib said treatment in various fields would be offered, including laparoscopic or minimally invasive surgery; cardiology and cardiothoracic services; paediatric genomic medicine and paediatric endocrinology.

He said construction of the children's specialist hospital and a Women and Children's Hospital now being built at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital showed that the country's health service was on track to be in the league of that in developed nations.

"Priority will be given to children- and parent-friendly features in the construction of the Permata Children's Specialist Hospital so as to provide an environment that will reduce the stress, anxiety and pain of the child patients," he said. Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is Permata Negara patron, was also present at the launch.

The hospital will have special features on par with other world-class children's hospitals, such as individual rooms for patients equipped also with basic necessities for parents.

It will have 250 beds, of which 198 will be in individual rooms and 52 in the wards under the open concept.

The children's specialist hospital will have parking bays for 1,600 cars.

The new hospital has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

"This smart partnership and cooperation provides for various activities, including exchange of specialists, attachment programmes and sub-field training, cooperation in research and rating of the quality of services," said Najib.

The prime minister also said that health indicators in Malaysia had reached almost the same level as those of the developed countries.

Citing 2011 as an example, he said statistics showed that the mortality rate of infants one year and below was six in every 1,000 births.

"The infant mortality rate for babies aged 28 days and less was four in every 1,000 births. These figures are on par with those of developed countries such as the United States of America and those in Europe," he said.

On Permata Negara, Najib said the programme had achieved very good results for the development of children in the country with the use of excellent teaching techniques.

"Permata children are also given good exposure through programmes in the country and abroad," he said.

At the event, Permata Negara received contributions totalling RM500,000 from Zeccon Sdn Bhd, Primabumi Sdn Bhd, Transmedics Sdn Bhd and Chulia Sdn Bhd.