
Perak MB: Gerik Hospital needs urgent upgrade to handle East-West Highway accidents
IPOH: Gerik Hospital is in urgent need of an upgrade as it struggles to cope with the high number of accident victims from the East-West Highway, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said.
He added that the hospital rePerak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad delivers his speech during the closing ceremony of the Perak Export Day event at Casuarina Hotel today.quires a new building, more specialists, and improved facilities.
He said the matter was raised during today's state executive council meeting by State Women, Family Development, Community Welfare, Cooperatives and Entrepreneur Development Committee Chairman Datuk Salbiah Mohamed.
"Salbiah pointed out that the frequent accidents in the Gerik area have made it critical for the hospital to be equipped with a new building, additional specialists, and upgraded facilities," he told reporters after closing the Perak Export Day event at Casuarina Hotel today.
He said the state Human Resources, Health, Indian Community Affairs and National Integration Committee chairman A. Sivanesan will prepare a working paper on the matter.
Saarani said that the state government will submit the proposal, as Gerik Hospital currently cannot cope with the increasing number of accident victims.
"We also discussed the location of accidents along the highway, which is a long stretch.
"If an accident occurs in the middle of the route, someone has to call the Gerik police station, and then the police and fire department must respond, which can take up to an hour.
"With the high volume of traffic, accidents in the middle of the route can cause delays of up to three hours before victims reach the hospital," he said.
According to the Perak Health Department website, Gerik Hospital was built in 1919 on an 3.23 hectare site at Jalan Intan.
It began operating in 1957 and has since undergone several upgrades, including the construction of a new building completed in 1992.
Gerik Hospital is the only government hospital providing medical services in the Hulu Perak district.
On Monday, the bus, carrying 42 UPSI students, was travelling from Jertih, Terengganu, to the university's main campus when it collided with a Perodua Alza at KM53 of the East-West Highway.
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New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Perak MB: Gerik Hospital needs urgent upgrade to handle East-West Highway accidents
IPOH: Gerik Hospital is in urgent need of an upgrade as it struggles to cope with the high number of accident victims from the East-West Highway, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said. He added that the hospital rePerak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad delivers his speech during the closing ceremony of the Perak Export Day event at Casuarina Hotel a new building, more specialists, and improved facilities. He said the matter was raised during today's state executive council meeting by State Women, Family Development, Community Welfare, Cooperatives and Entrepreneur Development Committee Chairman Datuk Salbiah Mohamed. "Salbiah pointed out that the frequent accidents in the Gerik area have made it critical for the hospital to be equipped with a new building, additional specialists, and upgraded facilities," he told reporters after closing the Perak Export Day event at Casuarina Hotel today. He said the state Human Resources, Health, Indian Community Affairs and National Integration Committee chairman A. Sivanesan will prepare a working paper on the matter. Saarani said that the state government will submit the proposal, as Gerik Hospital currently cannot cope with the increasing number of accident victims. "We also discussed the location of accidents along the highway, which is a long stretch. "If an accident occurs in the middle of the route, someone has to call the Gerik police station, and then the police and fire department must respond, which can take up to an hour. "With the high volume of traffic, accidents in the middle of the route can cause delays of up to three hours before victims reach the hospital," he said. According to the Perak Health Department website, Gerik Hospital was built in 1919 on an 3.23 hectare site at Jalan Intan. It began operating in 1957 and has since undergone several upgrades, including the construction of a new building completed in 1992. Gerik Hospital is the only government hospital providing medical services in the Hulu Perak district. On Monday, the bus, carrying 42 UPSI students, was travelling from Jertih, Terengganu, to the university's main campus when it collided with a Perodua Alza at KM53 of the East-West Highway.


New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
UPSI crash update: 18 discharged, 15 victims still in hospital
IPOH: Eighteen of the 33 victims injured in the bus crash involving 42 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students on the East–West Highway in Gerik yesterday have been discharged from hospital, the Perak Health Department said. As of 10am today, the department said 15 victims remain under treatment at three hospitals: Taiping Hospital, Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB), and Baling Hospital. "Most of the victims sustained multiple traumatic injuries. None have been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) so far," the department said. On post-mortem examinations and the handling of bodies, the statement said 13 bodies were taken to HRPB for identification and post-mortem between 11.15am and 4.40pm yesterday. "This process was carried out by one antemortem team and three post-mortem teams, totalling 14 personnel. "Additionally, two bodies were examined at Gerik Hospital from 1pm to 6pm by a seven-member post-mortem team. All bodies have since been released to the families for burial. "To coordinate the incident response, we have activated an operations room in collaboration with the Hulu Perak district health office," the statement said. It also said that nine Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services teams, comprising 40 personnel from both state and district levels, have been deployed to provide support to the victims and their families. "The Health Ministry, through the Perak Health Department, is closely monitoring developments and working hand-in-hand with all relevant agencies to ensure comprehensive support for all affected. "The department and the ministry extend their deepest condolences to the families of those who perished in the accident and wish a speedy recovery to those injured," the statement added. It was reported yesterday that the bus, which was carrying 42 UPSI students, was on its way from Jertih, Terengganu, to the university's main campus when it was involved in a collision with a Perodua Alza along the East-West Highway. Thirteen students died at the scene of the crash, while two others were pronounced dead at the hospital.


The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
KPWKM provides immediate aid to 10 UPSI students in ICU
PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) will provide RM1,000 each in immediate aid to 10 students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) warded in the intensive care units of two hospitals in Perak. Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the donations are through Yayasan Kebajikan Negara under the 'Skim Pemberian Ehsan Kepada Keluarga Mangsa'. She said her deputy, Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad, will visit the affected students on her behalf. 'Eight students are being treated at Taiping Hospital, while two are in Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh,' she told reporters after officiating the Women Seminar 2025 'EmpowerHER: Engage Energise Elevate', here today. Nancy said the ministry will also look into aid and support for the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy. 'I think the families need time to grieve as well. It is not just about giving money. What they need most right now is emotional support,' she said, adding that the ministry is ready to offer the services of professional counsellors. 'But we cannot simply show up immediately, people are still devastated,' she said. The tragic crash occurred between 12.30 am and 1 am yesterday on the East-West Highway near Tasik Banding, when a chartered bus carrying UPSI students from Jertih to Tanjung Malim overturned after colliding with a Perodua Alza. The accident claimed the lives of 15 students and left 33 others injured, including the bus driver, his assistant, and the Alza's driver and three passengers.